Thursday, June 6, 2013
Pictures
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Digestive System
Bianca Otarola
June 7th, 2013
6th period
The Digestive System
A digestive system's job is to break down food into molecules the body can use. An example would be turning carbohydrates into monosaccharides for energy. The organs within the digestive tract carry out the digestive process. Digestion includes the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into nutrients that are needed. There are four main types of digestive systems: monogastric, avian, ruminant, and pseudo-ruminant.
A monogastric system has one stomach. The stomach secretes acid, with the acid being a pH of 1.5 to 2.5. The low, acidic pH destroys bacteria and breaks material down. Some examples of monogastric animals are dogs, cats, and humans. The avian digestive system is in poultry. Poultry only break their food into small, tiny pieces so that they can swallow the food. They don't have any teeth to chew with. The food enters the mouth, travels through the esophagus, and empties into where food is stored and soaked (crop). The food then moves into the bird's stomach, where acids are secreted. The food then makes its way to the gizzard, the small intestine, and then to the large intestine. Food that is not digestible travels into the cloaca. The ruminant digestive system is a large stomach that is divided into four parts - the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum, and the abomasum. The ruminant system is in cattle, sheep, goats, and deer. They mainly eat hay. They mainly just swallow their food, there's not a lot of chewing in the process. A pseudo-ruminant is an animal that eats a lot of roughage but doesn't contain a stomach with different compartments. The pseudo-ruminant digestive system does the same thing of a ruminant system, but the pseudo-ruminant can swallow big amounts of roughages because of their large intestine. They usually eat grains and wheat. Some examples are horses, rabbits, and hamsters (http://www.cusd4.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/4e679ba30e7a0/Types%20of%20Animal%20Digestive%20Systems.pdf).
I actually don't think there's a big disadvantage to having a monogastric digestive system; except if an organism were to eat something that were not digestible. That would be horrible. A disadvantage of having an avian digestive system would be if the poultry weren't able to break the food into pieces. For the ruminant digestive system, if they didn't have all of the four parts that their stomach is supposed to be divided into. Their food wouldn't be digested properly. The pseudo-ruminant digestive system is actually kind of scary. What would happen if an organism ate an amount of food that was too big? The food probably wouldn't digest properly, either.
I actually don't think there's a big disadvantage to having a monogastric digestive system; except if an organism were to eat something that were not digestible. That would be horrible. A disadvantage of having an avian digestive system would be if the poultry weren't able to break the food into pieces. For the ruminant digestive system, if they didn't have all of the four parts that their stomach is supposed to be divided into. Their food wouldn't be digested properly. The pseudo-ruminant digestive system is actually kind of scary. What would happen if an organism ate an amount of food that was too big? The food probably wouldn't digest properly, either.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Circulatory System
Bianca Otarola
June 7th, 2013
6th period
The Circulatory System
The circulatory system consists of the heart, blood, and blood vessels. Its function is to transport gases, like oxygen from the lungs to cells, and carbon dioxide from cells to the lungs. They transport nutrients like glucose, and also transport waste from cells to organs that eliminate them. The circulatory system includes cells that fight infections and foreign bodies. It helps maintain pH, fluid levels, and body temperature (especially in endothermic animals). There are two types of circulatory systems: an open system, and a closed system.
An open system is a circulatory system where blood is not contained in blood vessels, for example, crayfish. They're common to most mollusks and arthropods. They pump blood so that the blood is diffusing back to the circulatory system between cells. The blood is pumped by the heart into the body cavities, where the blood surrounds the tissue (http://www2.gsu.edu/~bioasx/closeopen.html). A closed system is where blood is contained in blood vessels, for example, humans. The structures included in a closed circulatory system include the heart, blood, and blood vessels. Most vertebrates and a few invertebrates have a closed circulatory system. In a closed system, the blood is closed at all times. In this system, blood is pumped by a heart through vessels, and doesn't normally fill body cavities.
Open circulatory systems make it more difficult for oxygen to be filtered in and out. The limits to diffusion cause organisms with open circulatory systems to have a slower metabolic rate (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090112234110AAlPAIT). Closed circulatory systems require a rather stronger heart because there's more energy to maintain, and it's more complex, but more efficient and powerful.
Respiratory System
Bianca Otarola
June 7th, 2013
6th period
Respiratory Systems
There are several ways to obtain oxygen: some organisms breathe oxygen in through their lungs, such as humans and most mammals. Some organisms like fish breathe oxygen in through their gills, and some breathe oxygen in through their skin, like earthworms. External respiration is the exchange of gases between the atmosphere and blood (Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Modern Biology.). Internal respiration is the exchange of gases between the blood and the cells of the body (Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Modern Biology.).
Obtaining oxygen through the lungs is a process called fractional distillation (http://www.ask.com/question/how-is-oxygen-obtained). Oxygen is carried throughout the body inside the red blood cells, and when the red blood cells reach parts of the body where oxygen levels are low, the hemoglobin releases the oxygen into the blood. The oxygen then passes into the serum, where cells that need it are able to enter. Amino acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals are either dissolved or attached to another substance that allows them to travel easily in the blood. Serum gives the nutrients that cells need (http://www.livestrong.com/article/508795-how-do-cells-obtain-their-food-oxygen/). Obtaining oxygen through gills, is called aeration. This is a process that happens when oxygen and water are mixed together, which allows the fish to get the oxygen they need. The oxygen that is provided is then diffused and passed throughout the fish's body and blood stream (http://www.ask.com/question/how-do-fish-get-oxygen). Organisms, such as earthworms, breathe and obtain oxygen through their skin. Diffusion is what allows them to get the oxygen they need. Diffusion is the movement of molecules from a higher area of concentration to a lower area of concentration. The same process happens so that the organisms body can allow carbon dioxide to exit the body. (http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~glauren/earthworm.html).
A disadvantage of breathing oxygen in through lungs would be the dangers of catching an infection or disease. Even though oxygen is filtered when inhaled, there are pathogens in the air and anyone can easily catch any type of sickness, disease, infection, etc. A disadvantage of breathing in through gills would be the toxins that can be inhaled, and also cause infection. The ocean or habitat isn't ever perfectly clean, they can easily inhale some kind of toxin that can damage their respiratory systems. For organisms that breathe through skin, they don't exactly have a filter, so they can easily end up taking something in that doesn't belong in them, and get an infection or disease.
A disadvantage of breathing oxygen in through lungs would be the dangers of catching an infection or disease. Even though oxygen is filtered when inhaled, there are pathogens in the air and anyone can easily catch any type of sickness, disease, infection, etc. A disadvantage of breathing in through gills would be the toxins that can be inhaled, and also cause infection. The ocean or habitat isn't ever perfectly clean, they can easily inhale some kind of toxin that can damage their respiratory systems. For organisms that breathe through skin, they don't exactly have a filter, so they can easily end up taking something in that doesn't belong in them, and get an infection or disease.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Integumentary System
Bianca Otarola
June 7th, 2013
6th period
The Integumentary System
The integumentary system consists of the skin, hair, and nails. The skin is mainly the most important part of the integumentary system. It has a variety of functions, it can be waterproof, protect deeper tissues, get rid of waste, and regulate temperature, according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integumentary_system . There are many different type of integumentary systems - shells, hair/fur, skin, feathers, etc.
Shells are mainly for insects, and are made out of chitin, a protective, clear substance, usually for the skeletal system of exoskeletons (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/chitin). Hair/fur are usually on mammals, and help with maintaining homeostasis and temperature, and protect their skin from intense, harsh weather (intense heat, intense cold). Skin helps maintain homeostasis and body temperature as well. It helps get rid of waste. The layers of skin are able to repair and fix themselves, and contain sensory devices that help monitor the environment and devices that rid the body of waste (Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Modern Biology.).
The integumentary systems provides many adavantages. For shells, organisms are provided a lot of protection. They have a hard protective layer, and predators can't harm them as easily. Hair/fur help maintain homeostasis and body temperature, and protect skin from harsh weather. Skin gets rid of waste, water, and can repair itself easily. Feathers are made of keratin and are used for flying, maintaining temperature and homeostasis, and camouflage.
Shells can be very heavy and it can take a lot of energy for an organism to move around in them. The shell can easily slow them down (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090519164819AAjSvIE). For hair/fur, bugs such as lice or fleas/ticks can stick to them, and give the organism a kind of infection or disease. Skin doesn't contain a lot of hair, so organisms can get really cold really fast, and if they get too cold, their homeostasis can easily get thrown off, making it difficult for them to survive. A disadvantage for containing feathers would be the same as hair/fur, any kind of bug can stick to them and give a disease or infection.
The integumentary systems provides many adavantages. For shells, organisms are provided a lot of protection. They have a hard protective layer, and predators can't harm them as easily. Hair/fur help maintain homeostasis and body temperature, and protect skin from harsh weather. Skin gets rid of waste, water, and can repair itself easily. Feathers are made of keratin and are used for flying, maintaining temperature and homeostasis, and camouflage.
Shells can be very heavy and it can take a lot of energy for an organism to move around in them. The shell can easily slow them down (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090519164819AAjSvIE). For hair/fur, bugs such as lice or fleas/ticks can stick to them, and give the organism a kind of infection or disease. Skin doesn't contain a lot of hair, so organisms can get really cold really fast, and if they get too cold, their homeostasis can easily get thrown off, making it difficult for them to survive. A disadvantage for containing feathers would be the same as hair/fur, any kind of bug can stick to them and give a disease or infection.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
The Skeletal System
Bianca Otarola
June 7th, 2013
6th period
The Skeletal System
The skeletal system is all of the bones in an organism's body. It provides a stong framework that holds up the body and maintains its shape; it protects internal organs, and provides a structure for muscles to attach to. There are three types of skeletal systems: hydrostatic, endoskeleton, and exoskeleton. A hydrostatic skeleton is a structure containing mainly of only water and muscles. An endoskeleton is an internal supporting skeleton, and an exoskeleton is an external skeleton that protects and supports an animals body.
There are many advantages of having a skeletal system. For an exoskeleton, there's a lot of protection provided. It protects internal organs and makes it difficult for predators to attack. For an endoskeleton, the internal organs are protected very well, and they're not easy to damage (http://www.thefreeresource.com/facts-about-endoskeleton-for-kids) . The endoskeleton is made of bone, and muscles are what attach to bone, they're the main structure for movement. It also provides support for a body, and without it, the organism would have no shape, or even be able to stand. For example, a rat has an endoskeleton, and an earthworm does not. A rat can walk, or even stand on its hind legs. Earthworms can't do anything except slither from place to place. They have a hydrostatic skeleton, which means that their body only really contains a fluid that contains water. A crayfish has an exoskeleton, and can easily stay very well protected.
A disadvantage of having a hydrostatic skeletal system would be the amount of protection the organism has. With a hydrostatic skeleton, there's nothing really protecting the internal organs, so if they get injured, they can easily puncture an organ needed for survival. A disadvantage for an endoskeleton would be how there isn't any external protection provided. For an exoskeleton, it's more difficult for them to regulate body temperature, and the exoskeleton limits the size of the organism (http://www.edurite.com/kbase/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-exoskeleton#) .
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