B3E- The Circulatory System Flashcards
Why does blood look red?
Because it contains tiny red blood cells 😵
What do red blood cells do?
Transport oxygen around the body
What do white blood cells do?
They help defend the body against disease
What do platelets do?
Help clot blood if we cut ourselves
How are red blood cells adapted ?
They don’t have a nucleus- leaves more room to carry oxygen
They are very small so they can carry oxygen to all parts of the body
They are disc shaped and have a dent in both sides -helps them to absorb a lot of oxygen
Red colour comes from haemoglobin - oxygen combines with haemoglobin to allow it to be transported around the body
Describe the transport vessels
Arteries transport blood away from the heart
Veins transport blood to the heart
Capillaries join arteries to veins and carry blood through tissues.
Describe the adaption of blood vessels
Artery- thick muscular and elastic wall to help it withstand high blood pressure as blood leaves the heart
Vein - large lumen to help blood flow at low pressure; valves stop back flow of blood
Capillary- thin, permeable wall to allow exchange of material with body tissue
What does the heart do?
The right side pumps blood to the lungs. The left side pumps blood to the rest of the body. The blood leaves the heart in the arteries where the pressure is high. The blood returns to the heart at low pressure in the veins.
What is the yellow liquid in blood called?
Plasma
