2.3 Transport In The Blood Flashcards
What is blood made up of?
- plasma
- red cells
- white cells
- platelets
What is blood?
A tissue
What does plasma transport?
- carbon dioxide from organs to lungs
- soluble products of digestion from small intestine to other organs
- urea from liver to kidneys
Where is urine made?
The kidneys
Describe the physical appearance of red blood cells
Res biconcave discs
Name a cell in the bloodstream that does not have a nucleus
Red blood cell
Why are red blood cells red?
They contain the pigment haemoglobin, which is red
How do red cells use haemoglobin?
It combines with oxygen to form oxyhemoglobin (in the lungs) to carry the oxygen. Then splits up when oxygen is needed in the organs
Why don’t red blood cells have nuclei?
So they can carry more haemoglobin so they can carry more oxygen
Why are red blood cells biconcave?
So they can fit through the capillaries
Why can’t red blood cells repair themselves?
They don’t have a nucleus
What happens to the oxygen when the blood travels past the lungs?
Oxygen diffuses into the bloodstream because it has a lower concentration than of oxygen than the lungs. When in the bloodstream, oxygen sticks to the haemoglobin to form oxyhemoglobin
What happens to the oxygen when the blood travels past muscles?
The oxygen diffuses into the tissues and cells as it has a lower oxygen concentration than the bloodstream. The oxyhemoglobin splits up into oxygen and haemoglobin
What do white blood cells contribute to in the body?
The body’s defence system against microorganisms
What are platelets?
Small fragments of cells
