Level 5 · Science S5.4

Physiology

The organs of the body work together to exchange gases, move blood, fight disease and keep conditions steady.

Planned. This book is not written yet. Below is its plan, which a teacher can already use.

You are ready for this book if

You can explain how insulin controls blood sugar.

The plan

  1. S5.4.1 Gas exchange
    • Explain how alveoli, gills and leaves suit gas exchange
    • Calculate surface area to volume ratios and explain their effect
  2. S5.4.2 The heart and circulation
    • Interpret pressure changes during the cardiac cycle
    • Explain how the heartbeat starts and how its rate is controlled
  3. S5.4.3 Blood and oxygen transport
    • Interpret oxygen dissociation curves, including the Bohr shift
    • Explain how tissue fluid forms and returns to the blood
  4. S5.4.4 The immune response
    • Describe how B cells and T cells respond to an antigen
    • Explain how monoclonal antibodies are made and used
  5. S5.4.5 The kidney
    • Explain ultrafiltration and selective reabsorption in the nephron
    • Explain how ADH controls the water content of the blood
  6. S5.4.6 Neurones and synapses
    • Explain how an action potential travels along a neurone
    • Explain how synapses pass signals and how drugs affect them
  7. S5.4.7 Muscle contraction
    • Explain the sliding filament model of muscle contraction
    • Compare fast and slow twitch muscle fibres
  8. S5.4.8 Homeostasis and feedback
    • Explain negative feedback using body temperature and blood glucose
    • Explain the second messenger model of hormone action

For parents and teachers

Level 5 fits learners who can already: read a textbook. use functions and graphs. In many schools that is about 17 to 20, but start wherever the learner is.

Strand: The body. Written and drawn by attnom. Free to read, print and share.