Support and Movement

Support and

Movement

8.1 Support Systems in Animals

8.2 Support Systems in Plants

8.3 Appreciating the Support System in Living Things

CONTENTS

8.1 Support Systems in Animals

Vertebrates are animals with backbones. Invertebrates are animals without

backbones. Vertebrates

vertebrates

Vertebrate and Invertebrate

Vertebrate are supported by an internal skeleton of bones called endoskeleton

Vertebrate

The functions of endoskeleton are:

(a)To support the body weight.

(b)To protect the internal organs.

(c)To maintain the shape of the body.

Vertebrate

The land vertebrates have to support their own body weight.

The endoskeletons of land vertebrates are normally big and strong.

Examples:Horse skeleton and elephant skeleton.

Land Vertebrate

-The body weight of aquatic vertebrates are supported by the buoyancy of water.

-The endoskeletons of aquatic vertebrates are smaller.

-Example:Fish skeleton.

Aquatic Vertebrate

The support systems of invertebrate consist of:

i. Exoskeleton (Left Picture)ii. Hydrostatic skeleton (Right Picture)

Invertebrate

Cuticle is an exoskeleton which is made of chitin.

It covers and protect the body. Bees,flies,cockroaches,crabs,prawns and

scorpions are supported by cuticle.

Invertebrate-Exoskeleton

Invertebrates which have soft bodies such as worms,leeches and caterpillars are supported by the body fluid pressure called hydrostatic pressure.

Invertebrate-Hydrostatic skeleton

8.2 Support Systems in

Plants

The woody plants are supported by woody tissues.

Some examples of the woody trees are rubber trees,rambutan trees and durian trees.

Woody Plants

Some woody plants have additional features to help them.

(a) Buttress roots(b) Prop roots(c) Stilt roots

Woody Plants

Casuarina trees have buttress roots to provide additional support to the stems.

Buttress Roots

Banyan trees and maize plants have prop roots to give them extra support.

Prop Roots

Mangrove trees have stilt roots which provide extra support to the stem and help them to obtain sunlight.

Stilt Roots

Non-woody plants have soft stems. The turgidity of the cells provides

support to these non-woody plants. Some of the examples of non-woody plants

are yam plant, leafy vegetables and balsam plant.

Non-Woody Plants

Some non-woody plants have weak stems which are unable to support the plants.

However, they have other features to help them.

(a) Tendrils.(b) Thorns and prickles.(c) Twining stems.(d) Clasping roots.

Non-Woody Plant

Cucumber plants and pumpkin plants climb and grow upwards using tendrils.

Tendrils

Bougainvillea plants, rattan plants androse plants climb using thorns.

Thorns and prickles

Morning glory plants twine around other plants to help them climb higher in order to get enough sunlight.

Twining stems

Money plants and pepper plants climb by clasping.

Clasping roots

8.3 Appreciating the Support

System in Living Things

Support system provide an organism:--Proper shape and posture -Support the weight of body -Protect organs from injury

Without support system, many living things will not be able to live.

THE END