8.

1 Support systems in animals

8.2 Support systems in plants

8.1 Support systems in animals

Support system in invertebrates and
vertebrates
1.

Support system is very important to all

animals. Without support system, the
body would just collapse.

1.

Two parts of the support system are:

a) the skeletal
b) the muscular system

3. Three basic types of skeleton are:

a) hydrostatic skeleton
b) exoskeleton
c) endoskeleton

1
Hydrostatic
skeleton
Ex:

sea animones
and

earthworm.

- supported by
liquid, which
consist mainly of
water in their
cells and spaces

Exoskeleton
- hard material
which forms
the outside
of their bodies.
-outer covering of
insect is called the
cuticle and it is made
of chitin (a substance

Ex:
Insect such as grasshoppers and
cockroaches, and crustaceans such as
prawn and crabs.

3
Endoskeleton
- the skeleton is
inside the body and
muscles
are attached to it
Ex:
(internal
Fish, horse, cat, snake
etc. skeleton).

Endoskeleton in all vertebrates

1.

2.

All vertebrates have endoskeletons

which consist of bones and cartilage.
However, aquatic vertebrates have

smaller endoskeletons
compared to land vertebrates of
the same body mass.

3. This is due to support from buoyancy.

4. Buoyancy is the force from water which

allows an object to float.

The whale has smaller endoskeleton compared to elephant

Large land vertebrate eg. Elephant

need bigger and stronger bones to
support their body weight.

Whale need smaller bones compared

to elephant. Their body weight is
supported by water buoyancy.

8.1 Support systems in plants

1.

Plants are classified as woody or nonwoody.

plants

woody

Non-woody

2. The wood tissue provide support to wood

plants.
3. Woody plants with a single stem: trees
4. Woody plants that develop branches close to
the ground: shrubs

Trees shrubs

Mango tree

Bougainvillea shrubs

shrubs

Example of trees and shrubs

trees

Shrubs / Herbaceous

Durian tree

Bougainvillea

Mangosteen tree

Hibiscus plant

Mango tree

Rose plant

Rambutan tree

Balsam plant
Yam plant, paddy plant
etc..

Non-woody plants depend on the water

stored in the cells of the stem for support.
- When there is not enough water in these
cells, the plants wilt.
-

5. In the tropical rainforest, very little light

reaches the forest floor.
6. So, plants have to compete with one another for
light.
7.

They survive under this conditions by adopting a

climbing habit.

8. Some of these plants can be seen growing on other

trees and on fences after the forest have been
cleared.

Various support system in plants

1.
2.

Plants depend on their stems and roots for

support.
However, some plants such as the large trees,
mangrooves and climbers develop structures
for additional support.

Buttress roots

Stilt
roots

Prop roots

Air
sacs

Support system in plant

6

prickles

5
thorns

tendrils

Clasping
roots

Buttre
ss
roots

Taproot system of large trees does not provide good

support.

Many of these large trees have

buttress

roots at the base of the stem to provide extra

support.
Ex:
- The rain tree
- The flame of forest

Prop
roots

- Prop roots of banyan develop from

the branches and grow downwards into
the ground to give the tree extra support.
- Ex:
- The maize plant

Claspi
ng
roots

Clasping roots enable the plant to climb

by growing around and clasping its support.

- Ex:
- Orchids
- Money plants
- Pepper plants

Tendril
s

Tendrils is a coiled structure which develops from

the stem or leaf.

Tendrils wind themselves around the support and

help the plant to climb.

- Ex:
- Cucumber plant
- Garden pea plant
- Pumpkin plant

Thorns

- Thorns is a modified branch and it cannot

be easily removed from the stem.

thorns

The bougainvillea has

which are
used as organ of support for climbing.
- Ex:
- Bougainvillea plant

Prickle
s

- Prickles is an outgrowth of the

epidermis and can be easily removed from
the stem.
- Ex:
- Rose plant

Air
sacs

The brown alga is common on rocky shores. It is

alternately exposed and covered by the air tides every
day.

air sacs for support because air

This alga has

sacs provide buoyancy..
- Ex:
- Brown alga

Stilt
roots

Stilt roots develop from the main stem

of the mangrove trees.

- branches and grow downwards into the ground
to give the tree extra support.
- Ex:
- The mangrove plant

crutches

cane

Ambulatory aids

Walking frame

Support system in plants

Woody plants

Non-woody plants

Buttress root

Tendrils

Stilt root

Thorns
Prickles
Clasping roots

Prop roots ? Air sacs ?

.
Name type of support
system for the
following