B4.1 - The Blood Flashcards
What are the components of blood?
A unique tissue based on a liquid of plasma.
What is in plasma?
Red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets
Proportion of elements in blood
55% plasma
45% Red blood cells
1%< White blood cells
1%< Platelets
Why do we need a transport system?
We have a small surface area, and plants ahve a large surface area
Function of blood plasma
Yellow liquid that transports blood cells and some other substances aroune your body.
Fucntion of red blood cells
5 million in each cubic millimetre of blood.
Pick up oxygen from air in your lungs and carry it to the cells it is needed.
How are red blood cells shaped?
Biconcave discs and pushed in on both sides which gives them an increased surface area to volume ratio for diffusion.
What makes RBD red?
Packed with a red pigment called haemoglobin that binds to oxygen
Do RBC have nucleus’?
No so they can have more space for haemoglobin
Funcrion of White Blood Cells
Much bigger than RBC, have a nucleus and oart of the body’s defence system against harmful microorgansisms
Examples or White blood cells
Lymphocytes that form anitbodies against mircoorganisms
Phagocytes engulf and digest bacteria and viruses.
