STAAR Body Systems

A student studying interactions between body systems constructs this table. The student plans to fill out the table with phrases that describe an interaction between each pair of systems. 
Which of these phrases could be placed in the position marked with an X? 

• Provides nutrients to kidney cells
• Provides nutrients to brain cells
• Provides nutrients to nerve cells
• Provides nutrients to muscle cells 

Answer explanation

X is at the intersection of digestive system and muscular system.

Digestive system absorbs nutrients that all body cells need. (Muscle cells need nutrients to create movement).

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-3

 Recent studies in bone research indicate that using ultrasound on a broken bone can decrease the healing time by 25%. Which of these are the most basic levels of organization involved when a bone heals? 

• Cells and tissue
• Cells and organ system
• Organ system and organism
• Tissue and organ system

Answer explanation

Remember your Levels of Organization flipbook (smallest -> largest). Cells are the basic unit of life, and there are different cell types. The same cell type working together form a tissue.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-3

Which of the following is an example of the endocrine system directly interacting with the nervous system?

• The vertebrae protect the spinal cord from injury.
• Hormones provide feedback that affects neural processing.
• Sensory receptors in bones send signals about body position to the brain. 
• The brain sends signals that control the speed at which food moves through the intestines.

Answer explanation

Endocrine System - Makes hormones (chemical messengers). Nervous system - Sends/receives signals.

The diagram demonstrates a feedback process involving antidiuretic hormone (ADH). ADH increases the permeability of parts of the nephrons of the kidney, resulting in less water in the urine.
This feedback loop is likely to be activated when — 

• the body experiences dehydration
• blood glucose levels are stable
• body temperature drops
• the urinary tract is infected

Answer explanation

Less water in urine = keeping more water in the body. A good thing when dehydrated. (A type of negative feedback loop, similar to correcting body temperature).

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-3

The picture shows bean-shaped glands called nodes. The clusters of cells in nodes include macrophages that break down viruses and other potentially harmful materials. Nodes also contain cells that produce protein particles capable of capturing harmful materials that flow in tissue fluid through the nodes. Different parts of the body are drained by nodes in different regions of the body.
Which body systems are directly responsible for regulating these nodes and protecting the body from harmful materials in tissue fluid?

• Immune and lymphatic systems
• Digestive and nervous systems
• Endocrine and digestive systems
• Circulatory and nervous systems

Answer explanation

Lots of extra information... "Breaks down viruses and other potentially harmful materials" = Lymphatic (Immune) System, fights off infections.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-3

 The surface of the stomach is lined with epithelial cells called surface mucous cells. These cells produce a thick mucus that coats the epithelium on the inside surface of the stomach. What is the purpose of the mucous coating?

• It allows the epithelium to aid in the process of digestion.
• It causes the epithelium to expand as food enters the stomach.
• It protects the epithelium from the acid content of the stomach.
• It traps nutrients inside the epithelium as food passes through the stomach

Answer explanation

Stomach breaks down food using acid, but you don't want acid breaking down body cells. Body produces mucus coatings to protect sensitive areas (like snot in the nose, spit in the mouth, vaginal discharge, or fluid around the eyes).

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-3

Cytokinins are a class of plant hormones that help regulate growth by promoting cell division. Cytokinins are produced mainly in meristematic tissue, where most plant growth occurs. Which system carries cytokinins produced in the roots to the rest of the plant?

• Vascular system
• Dermal system
• Reproductive system
• None of these

Answer explanation

Hormones (chemical messengers) need to move around inside an organism.

Vascular (circulatory) system = Transport (Animals Arteries & Veins, Plants - Xylem & Phloem)

Scientists studying illnesses caused by chemically contaminated food conduct research to minimize the effects of these diseases on society. These chemicals harm the body through interactions between the digestive system and the immune system. Scientists conducting this research are likely to describe which of these interactions between the digestive and immune systems? 

• Chemicals enter the immune system through a break in the skin. The chemical contamination is then passed to the digestive system by the circulatory system.
• The immune system transforms the chemicals in the contaminated foods into harmless chemicals. These harmless chemicals are then broken down by the digestive system.
• When contaminated foods are eaten, the immune system prevents the chemicals from entering the digestive system.
• Chemicals enter the digestive system through contaminated foods. Once in the body, the chemical contaminants impair the body’s ability to fight off infectious diseases.

Answer explanation

Digestive system - Absorbs nutrients (and these chemicals contaminating the food). Immune (lymphatic) system - Fights off infections. Absorbing a chemical that impairs (decreases) the body's ability to fight off infections is a bad thing.

The graph models core body temperature during a rapid change in environmental conditions.

Which statement explains the pattern in the graph?

• Body temperature varies in a predictable pattern during the day.

• Body temperature is controlled by an internal feedback mechanism.

• Vasodilation and vasoconstriction are dependent on the time of day.

• Vasodilation and vasoconstriction trigger an immediate increase in body temperature.

Answer explanation

Feedback mechanisms allow the body to maintain homeostasis (stable internal conditions), like normal body temperature, normal pH, normal levels of water & nutrients, etc.)

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-3

During the final stages of human gestation, receptors for the hormone oxytocin increase on the smooth muscle cells of the uterus. The release of oxytocin during labor stimulates the smooth muscle tissue in the wall of the uterus. The vigorous contraction of the uterine smooth muscle helps push the baby through the birth canal so that delivery can occur. This process involves the interaction of which organ systems?

• Endocrine and muscular only

• Endocrine and reproductive only

• Endocrine, muscular, and reproductive

• Endocrine, reproductive, and excretory

Answer explanation

You saw this diagram in your notes. Endocrine system - produces hormones (oxytocin, a chemical messenger), Muscular system - Movement, Reproductive System - Baby making. Other systems are involved as well (like nervous system - sending/receiving signals), but this is the best answer choice.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-3