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Biology AS CIE

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  1. 1-cell-structure
    10 主题
  2. 2-biological-molecules
    19 主题
  3. 3-enzymes
    13 主题
  4. 4-cell-membranes-and-transport
    16 主题
  5. 5-the-mitotic-cell-cycle
    8 主题
  6. 6-nucleic-acids-and-protein-synthesis
    9 主题
  7. 7-transport-in-plants
    11 主题
  8. 8-transport-in-mammals
    16 主题
  9. 9-gas-exchange
    6 主题
  10. 10-infectious-diseases
    6 主题
  11. 11-immunity
    10 主题
课 8, 主题 11
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8-1-the-circulatory-system AS the-role-of-water-in-circulation

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Exam code:9700

The role of water in blood & tissue fluid

Solvent action

  • Water is the main component of blood (where it constitutes 95% of plasma, a straw-coloured liquid) and tissue fluid

    • Tissue fluid is formed when plasma passes through capillaries and some of it leaks into the spaces between the cells in the walls of the capillary

    • Tissue fluid is therefore mainly water

  • Water’s properties as a solvent make it ideal for transport in mammals

  • For example:

    • Glucose is transported in solution from the small intestine to every cell of the body for respiration

    • Urea is transported in solution from the liver to the kidneys

Specific heat capacity

  • Specific heat capacity is a measure of the energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1°C

  • Water has a high specific heat capacity of 4200 J / Kg °C

    • This means a relatively large amount of energy is required to raise its temperature

  • This means that water is able to absorb a lot of heat without big temperature fluctuations

    • This is vital in maintaining temperatures that are optimal for enzyme activity

  • Water in blood plasma is also vital in transferring heat around the body, helping to maintain a fairly constant temperature

    • As blood passes through more active (‘warmer’) regions of the body, heat energy is absorbed but the temperature remains fairly constant

    • Water in tissue fluid also plays an important regulatory role in maintaining a constant temperature

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