Biology IGCSE Guide

1.
2.
3.
4.

Draw a typical animal and plant cell and label different parts
Transport/Diffusion. Explain main features.
Define aerobic respiration: Final products. Name,etc.
Bread is made mainly of starch, protein, lipid, and fibre. Imagine a piece
of bread about to start its journey along the alimentary canal. State in
each organ: Enzymes, fluids etc. Explain digestive process. TableThinking Map, etc.
5. Circulatory System: A Make a simple diagram of a human heart, label
different chambers, arteries, veins, valves. Show blood flow.
6. How can coronary blockage be produced? Why are coronary arteries so
important?
7. Breathing: A- Where does gaseous exchange take place? Structures:
Characteristics that enable exchange.
B- What are the effects of cigarette smoke in lungs, and bronchi
8. Draw a simple diagram of excretory System. A. Label parts, B Define
ultrafiltration and selective reabsorption
9. What is ADH: Importance. Function.
10.Homeostasis: Mention different homeostatic mechanisms, develop one of
them.
1-

2Sometimes substances are required to be moved against the Concentration

Gradient, or faster than they would by Passive Transport. In these cases, Active
Processes are used, which require energy.

Diffusion is the net movement of molecules from a region of its higher

concentration to a region of its lower concentration. Molecules move down a
concentration gradient, as a result of their random movement.
Factors favoring diffusion
- Distance (the shorter the better), e.g. thin walls of alveoli and
capillaries.
- Concentration gradient (the bigger the better). This can be
maintained by removing the substance as it passes across the
diffusion surface. (Think about oxygenated blood being carried
away from the surface of alveoli).
- Size of the molecules (the smaller the better).
- Surface area for diffusion (the larger the better).
- Temperature (molecules have more kinetic energy at higher
temperature).
Two big differences between diffusion and active transport:
- Direction of movement (down or up a gradient)
- Use of energy for movement
The active transport is carried out by carrier proteins in the membrane,
which bind to the solute molecule, change shape and carry the molecule
across the membrane.
3A. Aerobic respiration
The release of a relatively large amount of energy in cells by the
breakdown of food substances in the presence of O 2.
(Oxidation)
Glucose + Oxygen

Enzymes

Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy

B. Anaerobic respiration
Anaerobic respiration: the release of a relatively small amount of energy
by the breakdown of food substances in the absence of O 2.
(Fermentation)
Glucose

Enzymes

Alcohol + CO2 + Energy

From

To heart and body

To lungs
Pulmonary arteryAorta
From lungs
Pulmonary
vein

body
and
head

Vena Cava

4-

MOUTH

SALIVARY
GLANDS

STOMACH

GLANDS IN
STOMACH
LINING

DUODENUM PANCREAS

SALIVA

GASTRIC
JUICE

SALIVARY
AMYLASE
PEPSIN

Class of
food
acted
upon

Substanc
es
produced

STARCH

MALTOSE

PROTEINS

PEPTIDES

PANCREATIC PROTEASES PROTEINS

JUICE
AND
PEPTIDES
AMYLASE
LIPASE
STARCH
FATS

MALTOSE
FATTY
ACIDS AND
GLYCEROL

Vent
ricle

5-

PEPTIDES
AND
AMINOACID
S

Atrium

Semilunar valve
Atrium

TricuspidBicuspid

Right

e
icl
ntr
e
V

Deoxygenated

Digestive
gland

Enzymes
in the
juice

Oxygenated

Region of
alimentary
canal

Digestive
juice
produced

Left

6Deposits of fatty substance, called atheroma are laid down in patches. The
patches may join up a continuous layer which reduces the internal diameter of
the vessel. The surface of a patch of atheroma sometimes becomes rough and
causes fibrinogen in the plasma to deposit fibrin on it causing a blood clot
(thrombus). If the blood clot blocks the coronary artery the blood cannot pass
through, so the muscles of the ventricle wont be supplied with oxygenated
blood, and the heart may stop beating.

7
1.
2.
3.
4.

A-Gas exchange usually involves 2 or more gases transferred in opposite

directions across a respiratory surface. Gaseous exchange relies on
diffusion. To be efficient, the gaseous exchange surface must:
Thin shorter distance to diffuse
Moist allow gases to dissolve
Large surface area
Have a concentration gradient across surface maintained by movement
of air and transport/ use of gas.

These features are present in alveoli.

8-

B-The smoke stops the cilia in the air passages from beating and so the
irritant substances in the smoke and the excess mucus collect in the
bronchi. This leads to the inflammation known as bronchitis. Emphysema
is a breakdown in the alveoli. The action of one or more of the
substances in tobacco smoke weakens the walls of the alveoli. The
irritant substances in the smoke cause a smokers cough and the
coughing bursts some of the weakened alveoli. The absorbing surface of
the lungs its greatly reduced. The smoker cannot oxygenate his blood
properly and the least exertion makes the person breathless and
exhausted.

Urine is made by filtration and selective reabsorption

As blood passes through the kidneys, it is filtered. This removes most of the
urea from it, and also excess H2O and salts.
As this liquid moves through the kidneys, any glucose in it is reabsorbed back
into the blood. Most of the H2O is also reabsorbed along with some of the salts.

The final liquid produced by the kidneys

is a solution of urea and salts in water.
It is called urine, and it flows out of the
kidneys, along the ureters and into the
bladder. It is stored in the bladder for a
while, before being released from the
body through the urethra.
9The relative
amount of water reabsorbed depends on
the state of
hydration of the body (how much water is
in the blood),
and is controlled by secretion of the
hormone
ADH. Changes in the concentration of the
blood are
detected by an area in the brain called
the
hypothalamus. If the blood passing
through the brain
is too concentrated, the hypothalamus
stimulates the pituitary gland beneath it
to secrete into the blood a hormone called the ADH. When this hormone
reaches the kidneys it causes the kidney tubules to absorb more water from
the glomerular filtrate back into the blood.
10Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment. It is
achieved using negative feedback.

The control of body temperature in humans involves

the hypothalamus, the skin and muscles. When the body becomes
too hot, sweating and vasodilatation increase the rate of heat loss
from the skin. When the body becomes too cold, shivering increases
heat production, and vasoconstriction reduces the rate of heat loss
from the skin.

The pancreas, working in conjunction with the liver, controls blood

glucose concentration. When this rises too high, the pancreas secretes
insulin which causes the liver to remove glucose from the blood and
convert it to glycogen. When blood glucose concentration falls to low,
the pancreas secretes glucagon which causes the liver to convert
glycogen to glucose.