Biology Organismal Biology & Physiology Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Biology Organismal Biology & Physiology flashcards as text
Which type of animal produces amniotic eggs, allowing reproduction on dry land without returning to water?
Answer: Amniotes (reptiles, birds, and mammals)
Amniotes produce eggs (or embryos) with specialized membranes including the amnion, chorion, and allantois that provide a self-contained aquatic environment for the embryo.
What is the primary role of surfactant in the human lungs?
Answer: Reducing surface tension to prevent alveolar collapse during exhalation
Surfactant, produced by type II alveolar cells, lowers surface tension at the air-water interface, preventing alveoli from collapsing when pressure drops during exhalation.
The hormone antidiuretic hormone (ADH) increases urine concentration by:
Answer: Increasing the permeability of the collecting duct to water
ADH (vasopressin) inserts aquaporin-2 channels into the collecting duct epithelium, allowing water to follow the osmotic gradient into the concentrated medullary interstitium.
During the process of osmoregulation, marine bony fish face which primary challenge?
Answer: Their body fluids are less concentrated than seawater, so they lose water by osmosis
Marine bony fish are hyposmotic to seawater, so water continually leaves by osmosis; they compensate by drinking seawater and excreting ions via the gills.
Which blood vessel carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs?
Answer: Pulmonary artery
The pulmonary artery is the only artery in the body that carries deoxygenated blood, transporting it from the right ventricle to the lung capillaries for gas exchange.
In plants, the apical meristem is responsible for which type of growth?
Answer: Primary growth elongating roots and shoots
Apical meristems at root and shoot tips produce cells that elongate to increase the length of roots and shoots, constituting primary growth.
Which of the following adaptations allows a deep-diving marine mammal such as a sperm whale to remain submerged for extended periods?
Answer: High concentrations of myoglobin in muscles and a large spleen that stores oxygenated red blood cells
Deep-diving mammals store large amounts of oxygen in muscle myoglobin and in a large spleen that contracts to release oxygen-rich red blood cells, extending dive duration.