Ch. 20 Unifying Concepts of Animal Structure and Function

Taylor - Campbell Biology: Concepts & Connections 10th Edition

Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan10th EditionCampbell Biology: Concepts & ConnectionsISBN: 9780136538783Not the one you use?Change textbook

Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan 10th Edition

Ch. 20 Unifying Concepts of Animal Structure and Function

Problem 8

Chapter 20, Problem 8

The diaphragm is a large sheet of muscle that helps move air in and out of your lungs. Breathing is automatically controlled by the brain, but you can choose to hold your breath or breathe deeper. What kind of muscle do you suppose makes up the diaphragm? (Explain your answer.)

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the types of muscles in the human body: There are three main types of muscle tissue in the human body: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac.

Understand the characteristics of each muscle type: Skeletal muscles are usually attached to bones and are involved in voluntary movements. Smooth muscles are found in the walls of hollow organs and are involved in involuntary movements. Cardiac muscle is found only in the heart and is also involved in involuntary movements.

Consider the function of the diaphragm: The diaphragm is responsible for facilitating breathing by contracting and relaxing to change the volume of the thoracic cavity, which helps in drawing air into the lungs and expelling it out.

Analyze the control of the diaphragm's movement: Although breathing is an automatic process controlled by the brain, the diaphragm can also be controlled voluntarily, such as when you choose to hold your breath or breathe deeper.

Conclude the type of muscle: Based on the ability to control the diaphragm voluntarily and its role in movement attached to a bony structure (the rib cage), it is classified as a skeletal muscle.

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Key Concepts

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

Muscle Types

There are three main types of muscle tissue in the human body: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth. Skeletal muscle is under voluntary control and is responsible for movement, cardiac muscle makes up the heart and is involuntary, while smooth muscle is found in organs and is also involuntary. The diaphragm is primarily composed of skeletal muscle, which allows for both involuntary and voluntary control during breathing.

Diaphragm Function

The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle located at the base of the thoracic cavity. It plays a crucial role in respiration by contracting and flattening during inhalation, which increases the volume of the thoracic cavity and draws air into the lungs. During exhalation, the diaphragm relaxes, allowing the lungs to expel air. This muscle's unique structure enables it to function effectively in both automatic and conscious breathing.

Neural Control of Breathing

Breathing is primarily regulated by the brainstem, which automatically controls the rhythm and depth of breathing based on the body's oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. However, the diaphragm's skeletal muscle composition allows for voluntary control, enabling individuals to hold their breath or take deeper breaths when desired. This dual control mechanism is essential for activities such as speaking, singing, or exercising.

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Textbook Question

Briefly explain how the structure of each of these tissues is well suited to its function: stratified squamous epithelium in the skin, neurons in the brain, simple squamous epithelium lining the lung, bone in the skull.

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Textbook Question

Describe ways in which the bodies of complex animals are structured for exchanging materials with the environment. Do all animals share such features?

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Textbook Question

Which of the following best illustrates homeostasis? (Explain your answer.)

a. Most adult humans are between 5 and 6 feet tall.

b. All the cells of the body are about the same size.

c. When the salt concentration of the blood goes up, the kidneys expel more salt.

d. When oxygen in the blood decreases, you feel dizzy.

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Textbook Question

You read a blog that states, 'A squid's eye has been perfectly designed to see in the dark depths of the ocean.' Draft a paragraph that responds to the blog's use of the phrase 'perfect design' by citing an example discussed in this chapter.

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Textbook Question

In a study to examine the effectiveness of a new acne cream, participants were assigned to one of two groups: those who would be asked to use the cream for three months and those who would not use any treatment. Participants would be asked to keep a journal rating how bad they think their acne is on a scale of 1–10 each week. What are the well-designed aspects of this study? What are the limitations? How would you improve the design of this study to address these limitations?

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Textbook Question

After a long, hot run together, your friend tells you that you should dunk your head into a cooler of water to lower your body temperature more rapidly, rather than sitting and waiting to cool down. What do you think? Form a hypothesis about how the ice-cold water might affect the rate at which your body temperature returns to normal. How could you test your hypothesis?

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