4.1 the blood Flashcards
What are the four main components of blood?
- plasma
- red blood cells
- white blood cells
- platelets
What does plasma transport and where?
- blood cells
- waste carbon dioxide: to the lungs
- urea: to your kidneys
- soluble products of digestion: from small intesine to individual cells
What is the function of red blood cells?
Pick up oxygen from the air in your lungs and carry it to the cells where it is needed
What are the adaptations of red blood cells?
- Biconcave discs, to maximise the surface area to volume ratio for diffusion
- Haemoglobin that binds to oxygen
- No nucleus for more space for haemoglobin
Is the reaction between oxygen and haemoglobin reversible?
Yes
What is the function of white blood cells?
Fight against harmful microorganisms and can sometimes produce antibodies or antitoxins
What do lymphocytes do?
Form antibodies against microorganisms
What is plasma?/what it carries
It carries nutrients, co2, hormones, urea and blood cells around the body
What are the adaptations of white blood cells?
- Form antitoxins
- Form antibodies
- Engulf bacteria
Adaptations of plasma
Clear and watery to transport soluble molecules
What are platelets
Small fragments of cells, that help the blood to clot
What are the adaptations of platelets
-Small fragments that get trapped in protein fibres to produce a clot
- no nucleus
Order red blood cells, plasma, white blood cells, platelets in order of amount in your body
Plasma
Red blood cells
Platelets and white blood cells
How much blood does the average person have?
between 4.7 and 5 litres
Why is urea formed and why does it go to the kidneys?
It is formed from the breakdown of excess amino acids and it is carried to the kidneys where it is removed from the blood to form urine
Write the word equation for oxygen’s reaction with haemoglobin and where it takes place
(in the alveolus) haemoglobin + oxgyen —> (in the rbc) oxyhaemoglobin —> (in the body organ) —> oxygen + haemoglobin
What do phagocytes do?
engulf and digest invading bacteria and viruses
What is another function of wbc?
Form antitoxins against poisons made by microorganisms
How does blood clotting work?
- It is a series of enzyme-controlled reactions that result in converting fibrinogen into fibrin
- This produces a network of protein fibres that capture lots of red blood cells and more platelets to form a jelly-like clot that stops you bleeding to death
What happens to the wound after a jelly-like clot is formed?
- the clot dries and hardens to form a scab
- this protects the skin as it grows and stops bacteria from ending the body through the wound
