| Questions | 5 |
| Topics | Biosphere, Breathing, Cell Division, Mesosphere, Veins |
The biosphere is the global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships. This includes their interactions with the lithosphere (the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle), hydrosphere (all surface water), and atmosphere (the envelope of gases surrounding the planet).
The diaphragm is a system of muscles that allows breathing. During inhalation, the diaphragm expands and air rushes in to fill the space created. Then, during exhalation, the diaphragm contracts and forces the air back out.
Cell division is the process by which cells replicate genetic material in the nucleus. Cell division consists of several phases:
| Phase | Major Process |
|---|---|
| interphase | chromosomes replicate into chromatids and the cell grows |
| prophase | chromatids pair up |
| metaphase | paired chromatids move to opposite sides of the cell |
| anaphase | cell elongates and nucleus begins to separate |
| telophase | separation of nucleus is complete resulting in two new nuclei |
| cytokinesis | cytoplasm and cell membranes complete their separation resulting in two separate cells |
In the mesosphere, temperature again drops as altitude increases until the coldest point in the Earth's atmosphere, the mesopause, is reached where temperatures fall to −225 °F (−143 °C).
Veins carry blood back to the heart from the body. While arteries are thick-walled because they carry oxygenated blood at high pressure, veins are comparatively thin-walled as they carry low-pressure deoxygenated blood. Like the heart, veins contain valves to prevent blood backflow.