The Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Transport - Assignment Example

The Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Transport The physiology of throughout the body is essentially different. The reason for this is that the former is carried inside while the latter must be flushed out of the system. However, they follow the same process which peruse of the blood. Specifically, this part is called the hemoglobin. It is important in order for the oxygen and carbon dioxide to travel to their respective destinations. Oxygen is not readily water soluble and that it can hold only a very small percentage percent of its own volume of the gas at body temperatures. This is where hemoglobin comes in. It combines with oxygen reversibly in instances wherein gas is abundant and releases it up in parts wherein oxygen is lacking. Oxygen’s dependency on the hemoglobin is quite fatal in the presence of carbon monoxide. This chemical also binds with the hemoglobin and unfortunately it can do this at a faster and stronger rate that does oxygen. Hence, carbon monoxide could virtually block out oxygen from being transported in the body resulting to death. Meanwhile, the carbon dioxide, as waste generated by cellular activity, has to be transported out of the body and this is achieved through various means by way of certain chemical reactions. One is through the process by which oxygen is delivered to the body by combining with blood’s hemoglobin in order to form a molecule known as the carbamino compound. Then, some percentage of carbon dioxide will interact with, carbonic anhydrase, an enzyme found in the red blood cells. This process results in the conversion of carbon dioxide into carbonic acid. So what happens is that carbon dioxide is enters the blood and transported as carbon dioxide, as carbamino compounds and as bicabornate. 2. There are three regions that compose the human respiratory system. These are the airways region found in the head; the tracheobronchial part; and the pulmonary or alveolar region. Inhaled air goes through the first region – through the nose/nasal cavity, the pharynx, the epiglottis then the larynx. The next working area would be the lung airways section, which is consisted of the trachea and the bronchi at both sides of the lungs. Finally, the air would pass through the pulmonary vessels or alveolar ducts. On the other hand, the avian respiratory system is composed of the trachea, the bronchi, anterior and posterior air sacs and the lungs. The avian respiratory system is differently developed and evolved mainly because of the energy and oxygen costs required by its mode of locomotion, which is flight. For example, unlike the human or fish respiratory system, the air flow processes that transpires in the avian respiratory system is characterized by one direction flow. Also, the lungs do not change in size or volume during breathing and that the air sacs do not participate in the gas exchange. What happened was that the respiratory system is highly subdivided into heterogeneous functional smaller units. For example, the gas exchange and ventilation are performed by separate respiratory organs. Meanwhile, the physiology of the fish respiratory system is quite interesting given the fact that its oxygen intake must transpire in water. So its respiratory system is quite different. It is mainly composed of the gills as well as the fish’s skin. There are many variations in which fish species use these organs to breathe but the gills are undoubtedly the most important. It is, first and foremost, a respiratory organ and that it also figure importantly in iono- and osmoregulation, nitrogen excretion as well as acid base regulation. 3. In biology, bicarbonates are formed as base molecules in the wider buffer system in the blood. It functions by binding the excess hydrogen ions as well as the acid excesses and acting as regulator of acid-base imbalances. The process of reabsorption of bicarbonates can help illustrate its components. This reabsorption process involves the kidney. It also involves for the most part the carbon dioxide transfer within the body. In the reabsorption processes, bicarbonate ions combine with other chemicals resulting to various chemical reactions. For example, if bicarbonate is filtered in the tubule and reacts with carbonic anhydrase, it results in the creation of carbon dioxide and water. The sequence is inversely repeated. The resulting carbon dioxide is diffused into the tubule, a process that reforms the bicarbonate ion. The next stage in the process is the bicarbonate diffusion in the blood’s plasma. Also, the kidney can produce newly synthesized bicarbonate. This can also show how bicarbonates are formed, including the chemicals that compose it. A rise in hydrogen ion concentration prompts the kidney to correct it. This is done by producing hydrogen (recycled by carbonic anhydrase) into the urine. The process results in the formation of bicarbonate that would again be diffused in the plasma or to replenish bicarbonates that have been used up as buffer acid in the correction of incomplete metabolism, say, as a result of nonvolatile acids in the diet. 4. The body systems function in coordination. The endocrine system and the nervous system is central to this phenomenon as they work together in order to assure that there is consistency in body functioning. They are central in a more comprehensive connection which include the nervous, digestive, endocrine, circulatory and skeletomuscular systems. These organ systems have to work together in order to maintain the so-called homeostasis. In physiology, this is equated to the concept of balance or state of balance within the body, for it to stay the same and stay alive. This is demonstrated in the way the organ systems work. The endocrine system helps in maintaining the balance of the body by producing hormones into the bloodstreams. Because of the blood, the endocrine system can affect many tissues and organs simultaneously. This is also the same with the nervous system. But instead of the hormones, it secretes nerve impulses which travel to and from all parts of the body. These two systems ensure that all the systems communicate with each other in order work simultaneously together. Digestive system, on the other hand, works with the respiratory, the circulatory and the skeletomuscular systems to deliver the supply of sufficient substances, nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. The hormones secreted by the endocrine system also play an important part in facilitating this process. The circulatory system’s role in this area is pivotal in the sense that, as it transports extracellular fluid throughout the body, there are chemical reactions happening that assures the maintenance of synchronicity in the body. Another aspect in maintaining homeostasis is the achievement of balance of the body’s internal environment. This is achieved by maintaining water and electrolyte balance as well as ensuring acid-base balance. These processes need the combined effort of the respiratory, endocrine, digestive and circulatory systems so that adverse effects on other systems such as the nervous system are averted. In addition to this, there is also a need to maintain the correct temperature within the body. This is achieved through the efforts of skeletomuscular, respiratory system, digestive system and the nervous system along with other organ systems such as the cardiovascular and excretory systems. Again, the homeostasis phenomenon is what essentially connects all organ systems mentioned. Its mechanisms are primarily controlled by the nervous and endocrine systems. It drives the various other organ systems to work together in order to maintain the body’s well-being. Here, it becomes easy to understand how the homeostasis – through the various organ systems – works through feedback and adaptive control mechanisms. Because of the feedback as transmitted by the nervous and endocrine systems, the rest of the body initiates the control mechanisms for the body to adapt and return to its normal state. 5. The urinary system functions by removing the liquid waste from the body as urine. It primarily cleanses the blood stream and hence, it works closely with the circulatory system. This process is included in the wider activity of the digestive system as it functions to deliver nutrients throughout the body. To demonstrate: food and water is digested, and then water, nutrients and salt goes to the circulatory system for distribution throughout the body. The urinary system comes in to eliminate the excess water, salt and wastes in the blood stream. The urinary system also works with other organ systems. For example, the muscular system is essential in urination by closing urethral opening. Then skeletomuscular system also helps the protection of urinary organs such as the kidneys and ureter. Also, the nervous system is pivotal in the adjustment of renal blood pressure and controls urine excretion. There are numerous relationships present that underscore the importance of the organ system to the proper functioning of the entire body. The interaction of the urinary system with other organ systems can also be demonstrated in cases of imbalances. If something goes wrong, the circulatory system is affected, as well as the reproductive, endocrine and cardiovascular systems. This is because it will adversely affect the adrenal glands, the blood pressure, and the reproductive organs, among others. Any imbalance of the kidney can also affect the maintenance of water-electrolyte balance as well as the acid-base balance. This is crucial because water and electrolytes are essential in every organ system. 6. After the food is swallowed, it passes through the pharynx and the esophagus. It finally progresses to the digestive system wherein it undergoes a process called the peristalsis. This digestive movement involves the systematic contraction and relaxation of digestive muscles. Peristalsis allows the food to be mixed with various gastric juices that the stomach and other digestive glands secrete. There is already some food absorption involved in the stomach. Here, alcohol, drugs and other fat soluble substances are absorbed. The digestive process proceeds to the small intestine, wherein the mixture of food and gastric juices are processed little by little. The pancreas is essential at this stage because it will help the small intestine work efficiently. This is done by tempering the high acidity of the food mixture by secreting acid-reducing enzymes. These enzymes can also break down carbohydrates and fats. The completion of the digestive process happens in the small intestines. Food absorption in the digestive system mainly happens at the upper part of the small intestines. For example, the starch and carbohydrates pass through the upper third. Then, proteins – after being broken down and digested - are absorbed in the upper part as well. The fats that are eventually carried to the rest of the body are absorbed almost at the last part of the small intestines because it requires the bile salts of the liver and the pancreatic enzyme in order to be broken down. Finally, when the digestion proceeds to the large intestines, only few substances, mineral and vitamins are absorbed in addition to water. Read More