Science 8 Notes

Unit 2: Topic 7- Body Systems and Your Health

During an exciting hockey game, both players and spectators experience

rapid breathing and heart rates. This happens because our muscles
demand more oxygen and nutrients as our activity level rises. Our heart
responds by pounding twice as fast to deliver ______________ and
remove wastes from every cell out of our body _____________.

Blood- The Bodys Transportation System

In ___________________organisms, materials are directly exchanged

between the cell and its external environment through the cell
membrane.

In multicellular organisms, most cells are not in direct ____________

with the environment. Substances must be brought to cells and taken
away from them by the circulatory system. The blood vessels form a
complex network linking the outside environment with the internal
environment of the body.

About 8% of an adults body weight is ______________.

What is blood made from?

______________ and red blood cells make up 99% of your blood.
Plasma is the liquid portion of your blood and it transports most of
the carbon dioxide produced by the body
______________________ are specialized to carry oxygen and
contain an iron rich chemical called hemoglobin, which attracts
oxygen. This allows blood to carry much more oxygen than it
otherwise could.
Component Percentage of blood Main function
(by volume)
Plasma _________ Carries nutrients,
waste products,
hormones, and blood
cells
Red blood cells __________ Carry oxygen
White blood cells Less than ______ Defend body against
infection and disease
Platelets Less than ______ Causes blood to clot
(thicken) at site of
wounds to prevent
blood loss

Just as highways bring materials from outside your town, the circulatory
system continuously brings _____________ and nutrients from the
outside of your body to your cells.

The circulatory system works closely with the respiratory and digestive
systems. If one of these systems does not function properly, the whole
network is disrupted and the entire body is affected.

Leading causes of hospitalization in Canada are disorders of the

circulatory system (15 %), digestive system (11%), and respiratory
system (10%).

A Healthy Circulatory System

The _______________ action of the heart circulates the blood
throughout the body, supplying oxygen and food that cells need for their
activities. The circulating blood in your body carries ___________
produced by the cells to other organ systems that break them down or
excrete them from the body.

Circulatory system diseases are the leading cause of death in Canada.

The most common is _________________ (high blood pressure). It can
affect the circulation of the blood and leads to heart __________
(damage to the heart muscle) and __________ (brain damage).

Hypertension is called the silent killer because people with

hypertension may not feel ill.

Blood Pressure

To test the health of your circulatory system, doctors will measure your
blood pressure. The device used to measure it is called a
sphygmomanometer.

Blood pressure indicates several things about the health of the

circulatory system:

The ___________ of blood: if a person has lost a lot of blood

through injury, blood pressure is LOW
Heart ________: A fast beating heart pushes blood rapidly through
the arteries, blood pressure is HIGH
_________ size: Large, open arteries conduct larger volumes of
blood, producing low blood pressure. Small, narrow, or partly
clogged arteries produce a blood pressure that is HIGH
Artery ___________: flexible arteries can easily expand letting
more blood through. Loss of elasticity results in the hardening of
the arteries, producing a blood pressure that is HIGH
_______ viscosity: thick fluids flow less easily than thin, watery
fluids. Blood viscosity is a measure of the balance between red
blood cells and plasma.
Disorders of the Circulatory System

Certain conditions place people at high risk of disorders of the

circulatory system like _________, high levels of cholesterol, high blood
pressure, and lack of exercise.

_____________ in cigarette smoke causes blood vessels to constrict,

increasing the heart rate and raising blood pressure. Also, carbon
monoxide in the smoke _____________ with oxygen in the lungs and
reduces the bloods ability to carry oxygen to the cells.

A high _________ diet can raise blood pressure, putting greater strain on
the heart. The heart gradually increases in size and becomes less
______________. High-fat diets can cause fats such as cholesterol to
build up inside of arteries and as they narrow, they become blocked.
Tiny tears in the walls cause blood _________ that can travel to the
brain and cause a stroke. As well, blood flow through the arteries can
become limited, causing a heart attack.

Making healthy lifestyle choices can limit the risk of these disorders.

A Healthy Digestive System

The food we eat contains different combinations of substances. Some

substances provide energy for our cells. Others provide the materials
form the growth and __________ of our cells. These substances are
called nutrients.

Other substances in foods can cause poor health and promote disease
when consumed in large quantities over a large period of time.
Nutrients in Food

Starch and __________ are carbohydrates and provide the body with its
main source of energy. Starch is a complex carbohydrate fund in fleshy
fruits, grains, beans, and peas. It should be the main carbohydrate in a
diet because it is easily digested into simple sugars to provide quick
_____________. It is also high in fibre.

Fats provide us with energy and ___________ our vital organs from
shock. Unlike carbohydrates, fats can be __________ in our body. When
you eat more fats than your body requires, it stores them in __________.
Once fat cells are formed, they remain in the body waiting to be filled. A
proper diet and exercise will allow your body to limit the formation of
fat cells.

Proteins found in foods such as meat, fish, and eggs, are important for
the growth and repair of body tissues. In order to obtain all of the protein
that they need, _________________ need to carefully eat a combination
of plants.

Disorders of the Digestive System

The digestive system is prone to disorders from poor lifestyle habits or

disease.

A high fibre diet is important because when there is little fibre, it takes
the ___________ a longer time to process waste material (poop). This
increases the chances of irritating the colon wall and, over a long period
of time, may lead to colon __________.

Sometimes a fast-paced life can cause people to skip meals, eat too
much too quickly, and eat unhealthy foods. All of these habits contribute
to colon cancer, but a low-fibre diet is the most important contributing
factor.
Long-term _____________ stress, smoking, or excessive use of
___________ or aspirin can lead to a peptic ulcer. An ulcer occurs
when the unprotected wall of the stomach or small intestine is damaged
by excess stomach acid. They can usually be cured by heavy antibiotic
doses.

A Healthy Respiratory System

If you live in an area of high ______ pollution, spend time in buildings

with poor air quality, or sit beside a smoker, your respiratory system is
strained.

__________ , air pollution, and coal dust have been related to many
respiratory system disorders.

Disorders of the Respiratory System

Your respiratory system is lined with tiny hairlike projections called

_________ . They beat continuously to remove airborne particles.

Poisons in cigarette smoke and pollutants irritate this lining, causing

more ___________ production. At first, mucous can be removed by
______________. Over time, the irritated lining will become inflamed,
leading to bronchitis.

_______________ can be treated, but if the irritation continues, the

ciliated cells will be destroyed and the mucous producing cells multiply.
If this continues, the respiratory airways are narrowed and become
______________.

Eventually, the bronchitis will lead to emphysema. Smoking is the

leading cause of _______ cancer. Cancer occurs when certain
compounds in the tar and the smoke contact the lung tissue and causes
the cells to grow out of ___________. Large clusters of these
uncontrolled cells begin to out-compete the healthy cells for nutrients.
The healthy cells are killed, and the cancerous cells divide.

You and Your Body

Sometimes, people pay less attention to their bodies than they do

maintaining their car, phone, or gaming system. To maintain healthy
organ systems, everyone needs clean air and water, nutritious foods,
exercise, and _________.

Clean air means oxygen for your _______. Pollution decreases the
ability of oxygen to get into your body. A balanced diet provides your
cells with the food materials they need for growth and ____________.
Lack of essential materials wakens the body, while too much such as
fats, sugars and salts can strain it as well.

Exercise helps the body process food and oxygen more efficiently. A
healthy heart and lungs help carry materials to the cells and get rid of
_________. Strong muscles protect your body from injury.

Healthy lifestyle habits make you feel better and help your body resist
_____________. Your immune system works better when you are fed
and rested. If you get a cold, disease, or injury, you are likely to recover
faster if you are healthy.