B4.1-2 Blood And Vessels Flashcards
What are the four components of the blood?
Plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets
What is the role of the red blood cell? How are they able to do this and how are they adapted to to their role
To carry oxygen from the lungs to our bodies tissues
Contain haemaglobin which becomes oxyhaemaglobin
Don’t have a nucelus so more space for oxygen
Biconcave disk- larger surface area to absorb oxygen
What is the role of the white blood cells? What are the three ways it can do this role.
Central part of the immune system defending us from infection
Phagocytosis- engulfing pathogens
Produce antibodies- bind into pathogens and help destroy them
Antitoxins- neutralise any toxins
What is the role of platelets and give some key points on them?
Small fragments of cells
No nucleus
Role- float about in blood and when there is a wound they clot the blood to stop bleeding and stop microganisms from getting into the blood
What is the role of plasma and give some key points on it ?
Makes the blood watery so it can flow
Carries everything including- red blood cells white blood cells and platelets
Also carries nutrients and waste products aswell as hormones, proteins and antibodies produced by white blood cells
Give key points on arteries? Include how they are adapted to their function and what they do
Carry blood away from heart
Due to this the blood is high pressure so it need to be strong and allistic
So it has thick layer or muscle and elastic tissue but the wall of the artery is thick and the lumen is small
Give key points on capillaries? Include: their role, how they are adapted to their function and what they do
Really small
Role- exchange substances with cells eg nutrients and oxygen and take away waste products like CO2
Walls only single cell thick and permeable so substances can easily diffuse- small lumen and low pressure to allow time for exchange
Give key points on veins? Include how they are adapted to their function and what they do
Transport blood back to the heart
Biggest lumen and relatively thin wall with small layers of both elastic and muscle fibres due to low pressure
Have valves to prevent back flow of blood insuring it’s always flowing towards the heart
