Question

The question can be answered in a variety of ways. You are encouraged (and in some case required) to use graphs and diagrams as part of your answer, to illustrate your argument or particular concept.

The vertebrate cardiovascular (CV) system has a job of delivering a variety of molecules, entrained in plasma, to all the cells in your body. How does it achieve this function effectively (at sufficient rate) and efficiently (with minimal energetic cost)? How does the transport & transfer function differ in extant endotherms and ectotherms?

Answer 1

The cardiovascular system is just like an intricate network which joins all parts of the body with the help of artries, veins and capillaries.

Nutrients are absorbed through small intestine and then they get transported to liver and then to the heart. From heart the nutrient rich blood get pumped to the lungs to get oxygenated. Then it get transported to the cells of the body with the help of blood vessel. As blood travels through small vessels it flow get reduced which is responsible for efficient exchange for nutrients/oxygen for cellular waste product.

Ectotherms generally having 2-3 chambered heart and they do not generate body heat by their own but keep remain dependent on external environment so they require less amount of oxygen/nutrient comparative to endotherms. Endotherms having higher heart rate and high blood flow rate which helps to pump blood to the muscle to fulfill the oxygen requirement.

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