242,818 views
18 votes
18 votes
Give a description and one or two examples of these functions in the body. (Transportation of materials)Could you please simplify/condense the answer to as few sentences as possible? Please and thank you.

User MpSchrader
by
3.0k points

1 Answer

27 votes
27 votes

when we are talking of materials transportation in the human body we are involving two aspects, one is the circulatory system in the body and the other is the transport of materials in each cell, through the cell membrane. Both are connected and cannot function without one or the other.

The circulatory system is none other than the whole net of veins and arteries that the body posses. The veins transport the disposed materials of the cells such as carbon dioxide, and arteries take fresh nutrients and oxygen to cells.

At the cellular level, we are talking of the exchange of substances through the plasmatic membrane, this is possible by two mechanisms active and passive transport, the first involves ion exchange through the use of ATP, and the second there is no ATP expense, these mechanisms are osmosis, diffusion, and dialysis.

Example

Circulatory system: Oxigen is acquired by hemoglobin in the lungs through the alveolus, and it collects carbon dioxide and it´s transported through the veins to the lungs and alveolus.

Cellular transport: The most known is the sodium-potassium pump, which through the use of ATP, the cell maintains its membrane potential, pumps sodium ions out of the cell, and pumps in potassium into the cell. Here we can see the connection with the circulatory system, the expelled sodium, and the placed potassium is delivered and removed through veins and arteries.

User Mrmclovin
by
3.1k points