Cardiac System:
What It Is: The cardiac system, also known as the cardiovascular system, consists of the heart and a network of blood vessels, including arteries, veins, and capillaries.
What It Does: The primary function of the cardiac system is to circulate blood throughout the body. It delivers oxygen and essential nutrients to cells and tissues while removing waste products like carbon dioxide.
How It Works: The heart pumps blood through a series of chambers and valves. It contracts rhythmically to create pressure, propelling blood into the arteries. The arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart, while veins return deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
Respiratory System:
What It Is: The respiratory system includes organs like the nose, trachea (windpipe), bronchial tubes, and lungs.
What It Does: Its main function is to facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the body and the external environment. This is essential for cellular respiration, which produces energy.
How It Works: When you inhale, air travels through the nose and/or mouth, down the trachea, and into the bronchial tubes, ultimately reaching the tiny air sacs in the lungs called alveoli. Here, oxygen diffuses into the bloodstream, while carbon dioxide moves out of the blood into the air to be exhaled.
Cardio-Respiratory System Interaction:
The cardio-respiratory system interacts closely to ensure the body maintains homeostasis, which is the stable internal environment necessary for optimal functioning.
The heart (cardiac system) pumps oxygenated blood from the lungs (respiratory system) to all cells in the body. Cells use oxygen for cellular respiration, producing energy (ATP) and carbon dioxide as a waste product.
The deoxygenated blood with carbon dioxide returns to the heart and is pumped to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen and releases carbon dioxide.
This exchange of gases in the lungs and the transportation of oxygen and carbon dioxide by the blood ensure that cells receive the oxygen they need for energy production and that waste carbon dioxide is efficiently removed.
The cardio-respiratory system thus works together to maintain the necessary balance of gases in the bloodstream, ensuring that the organism's cells can function optimally.
In summary, the cardiac system and respiratory system collaborate as the cardio-respiratory system to circulate oxygen, remove carbon dioxide, and help an organism maintain homeostasis by ensuring a stable internal environment conducive to the energy needs of the body's cells.
New York State Next Generation Science Standards (NYSSLS) for Living Environment:
Standard LE.1 - Cells:
While the text primarily focuses on the cardiac and respiratory systems, it indirectly relates to this standard as it discusses the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to cells through the circulatory system.
Standard LE.2 - Genetics:
The text indirectly aligns with this standard as it emphasizes the importance of oxygen in cellular respiration, a process influenced by genetics.
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):
Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs):
The text relates to the DCI "LS1.A: Structure and Function" as it explains the structure and function of both the cardiac and respiratory systems, highlighting their roles in maintaining homeostasis.
Crosscutting Concepts:
The crosscutting concept of "Systems and System Models" is evident, as the text describes how the cardiac and respiratory systems function together as a system to maintain the balance of gases in the bloodstream.
Science and Engineering Practices:
The practice of "Constructing Explanations" aligns with the text as it provides a clear explanation of how the cardio-respiratory system works to maintain homeostasis.
In summary, the provided text aligns with the NYSSLS for Living Environment, particularly standards related to cellular processes and the importance of oxygen. It also aligns with NGSS DCIs, crosscutting concepts, and science and engineering practices, making it a valuable resource for teaching students about the cardio-respiratory system and its role in maintaining homeostasis.