Blood Flashcards

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1
Q

What does blood do

A

Carries many kinds of substances such as food gases, and wastes to and from all the body cells

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2
Q

What does plasma do

A

Makes up blood and allows it to flow through blood vessels and circulate throughout the body

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3
Q

What is plasma made of

A

Mainly water and dissolved gases and nutrients

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4
Q

What % of blood fluid is blood plasma

A

55%

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5
Q

What makes up the rest of blood

A

Red and white blood cells and platelets

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6
Q

Plasma is 92% water, what is the rest of it made of

A
Carbon dioxide
Glucose
Hormones
Proteins
Mineral Salts
Fats
Vitamins
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7
Q

What are the solid components of blood

A

Red blood cells
White blood cells
Platelets

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8
Q

What is another name for Red Blood Cells

A

Erythrocytes

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9
Q

Do red blood cells have a nucleus

A

No

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10
Q

What is the shape of a red blood cell

A

Tiny, disk like

Not completely round and are bi-concave in shape

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11
Q

What is the main function of red blood cells

A

Transport oxygen around the body

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12
Q

Why are red blood cells disc shaped with a dent on each side

A

Increases the surface area for gas exchange

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13
Q

Why do RBC’s have no nucleus

A

To allow for more space for haemoglobin and therefore more oxygen

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14
Q

Why do RBC’s have a large surface area compared to volume

A

It allows oxygen to always be close to the surface

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15
Q

What is haemoglobin

A

A special pigment in RBC’s made of protein that contains iron and retains the oxygen until it reaches its destination

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16
Q

How are RBC’s able to carry oxygen

A

At the lungs, oxygen diffuses into the blood cell and combines with the haemoglobin to form oxyhaemoglobin

17
Q

What gives RBC’s their bright red colour

A

The oxyhaemoglobin

18
Q

What is the lifespan of an RBC

A

4 months

19
Q

What is another name for white blood cells

A

Leukocytes

20
Q

Are WBC’s bigger or smaller than RBC’s

A

They are bigger

21
Q

What is the shape of an WBC and do they have a nucleus

A

They have no distinct shape nor do they have a nucleus

22
Q

What is the main function of WBC’s

A

Destroy Pathogens and prevent pathogens from spreading

23
Q

What do higher or lower levels of WBC’s indicate

A

Can indicate disease

24
Q

What is another name for a platelet

A

Thrombocyte

25
Q

What are Platelets

A

Small fragments of cells that promote blood clotting and stop wounds from bleeding

26
Q

What do platelets do when the skin is wounded

A

They release chemicals that cause soluble fibrinogen proteins to form a mesh of insoluble fibrin fibres across the wound
They stick together to form clumps that get stuck in the fibrin mesh
RBC’s also get stuck in the mesh, forming a clot. This develops a scab which protects the wound

27
Q

What are the 6 functions of blood that are central to survival

A

Supplying oxygen to cells and tissues
Providing essential nutrients to cells such as glucose
Removing waste materials such as Carbon dioxide
Protecting the body from infection and foreign bodies through WBC’s
Transporting hormones around the body, transporting messages and completing important processes
Regulating Acidity and body temperatures

28
Q

Where are RBC’s, WBC’s and platelets produced

A

Bone marrow

29
Q

What are the three most common blood disorders

A

Anaemia
Blood clots
Blood cancers

30
Q

What is Anaemia

A

Shortage of RBC’s or haemoglobin in the blood

31
Q

What are symptoms of Anaemia

A

Fatigue and pale skin

32
Q

What are blood clots

A

When blood clots coagulate inside a blood vessel and create a blockage

33
Q

How can blood clots lead to a pulmonary embolism

A

A clot can become dislodged and move through the heart to the lungs. This can be fatal

34
Q

What are three types of blood cancer

A

Leukemia, Myeloma and lymphoma

35
Q

How does blood cancer occur

A

Mutated blood cells divide uncontrollably without dying at the normal point in their life cycle

36
Q

What causes high blood pressure

A

When arteries leaving the heart are coated with a fatty substance that makes them narrow. The narrow arteries force the heart to work even harder. Long term high blood pressure can cause health problems

37
Q

What causes a heart attack

A

The blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked
The muscle dies
The damaged heart may beat unevenly and therefore not be able to pump blood all around the body

38
Q

What causes a stroke

A

Brain cells suddenly die because they do not get enough oxygen
This happens when an artery that carries blood to the brain is blocked or bursts open

39
Q

What could happen to someone who has a stroke

A

They may suddenly not be able to speak
Lose their memory
Become paralysed on one side of the body