Table of contents

1. Introduction to Biology2h 42m
2. Chemistry3h 37m
3. Water1h 26m
4. Biomolecules2h 23m
5. Cell Components2h 26m
6. The Membrane2h 31m
7. Energy and Metabolism2h 0m
8. Respiration2h 40m
9. Photosynthesis2h 49m
10. Cell Signaling59m
11. Cell Division2h 47m
12. Meiosis2h 0m
13. Mendelian Genetics4h 44m
14. DNA Synthesis2h 27m
15. Gene Expression3h 6m
16. Regulation of Expression3h 31m
17. Viruses37m
- Viruses
  37m
18. Biotechnology2h 58m
19. Genomics17m
- Genomes
  17m
20. Development1h 5m
21. Evolution3h 1m
22. Evolution of Populations3h 53m
23. Speciation1h 37m
24. History of Life on Earth2h 6m
25. Phylogeny2h 31m
26. Prokaryotes4h 59m
27. Protists1h 12m
28. Plants1h 22m
29. Fungi36m
- Fungi
  19m
- Fungi Reproduction
  17m
30. Overview of Animals34m
- Overview of Animals
  34m
31. Invertebrates1h 2m
32. Vertebrates50m
33. Plant Anatomy1h 3m
34. Vascular Plant Transport1h 2m
- Water Potential
  1h 2m
35. Soil37m
- Soil and Nutrients
  20m
- Nitrogen Fixation
  16m
36. Plant Reproduction47m
- Flowers
  33m
- Seeds
  14m
37. Plant Sensation and Response1h 9m
38. Animal Form and Function1h 19m
39. Digestive System1h 10m
- Digestion
  1h 3m
- Blood Sugar Homeostasis
  7m
40. Circulatory System1h 49m
41. Immune System1h 12m
42. Osmoregulation and Excretion50m
- Osmoregulation and Excretion
  50m
43. Endocrine System1h 4m
- Endocrine System
  1h 4m
44. Animal Reproduction1h 2m
- Animal Reproduction
  1h 2m
45. Nervous System1h 55m
- Neurons and Action Potentials
  1h 8m
- Central and Peripheral Nervous System
  46m
46. Sensory Systems46m
- Sensory System
  46m
47. Muscle Systems23m
- Musculoskeletal System
  23m
48. Ecology3h 11m
49. Animal Behavior28m
- Animal Behavior
  28m
50. Population Ecology3h 41m
51. Community Ecology2h 46m
52. Ecosystems2h 36m
53. Conservation Biology24m
- Conservation Biology
  24m

40. Circulatory System

Circulatory and Respiratory Anatomy

General Biology

40. Circulatory System

Circulatory and Respiratory Anatomy

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1:14 minutes

Problem 4

Textbook Question

Which of the following is the main difference between your cardiovascular system and that of a fish?
a. Your heart has two chambers; a fish heart has four.
b. Your circulation has two circuits; fish circulation has one.
c. Your heart chambers are called atria and ventricles.
d. Yours is a closed system; the fish's is an open system.

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the structure of the human cardiovascular system: Humans have a four-chambered heart (two atria and two ventricles) and a double circulatory system, which includes the pulmonary circuit (lungs) and systemic circuit (rest of the body).

Understand the structure of the fish cardiovascular system: Fish have a two-chambered heart (one atrium and one ventricle) and a single circulatory system, where blood flows from the heart to the gills for oxygenation and then directly to the rest of the body.

Eliminate option a: This is incorrect because the human heart has four chambers, not two, and the fish heart has two chambers, not four.

Eliminate option c: This is incorrect because both human and fish hearts have chambers called atria and ventricles, so this is not a distinguishing feature.

Eliminate option d: This is incorrect because both humans and fish have closed circulatory systems, meaning blood is contained within vessels. The correct answer is option b, as humans have a double circulatory system while fish have a single circulatory system.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Cardiovascular System Structure

The cardiovascular system consists of the heart and blood vessels, which transport blood throughout the body. In humans, the heart has four chambers: two atria and two ventricles, allowing for efficient separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. In contrast, fish typically have a two-chambered heart, consisting of one atrium and one ventricle, which limits their ability to separate blood types.

Circulatory Pathways

Circulatory systems can be classified as either single or double circuits. Fish have a single circulatory system, where blood flows from the heart to the gills for oxygenation and then directly to the rest of the body. In contrast, humans have a double circulatory system, where blood is pumped from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation and then back to the heart before being distributed to the body.

Closed vs. Open Circulatory Systems

A closed circulatory system, like that of humans, means that blood is contained within vessels, allowing for more efficient transport and regulation of blood flow. In contrast, fish possess a more primitive open circulatory system, where blood (hemolymph) is not always confined to vessels and can flow freely in body cavities, which can limit the efficiency of oxygen and nutrient delivery.

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Textbook Question

One feature that amphibians and humans have in common is

a. The number of heart chambers.

b. A complete separation of circuits for circulation.

c. The number of circuits for circulation.

d. A low blood pressure in the systemic circuit.