blood Flashcards
what are the four main parts of the blood?
- red blood cells
- white blood cells
- plasma
- platelets
what is blood plasma?
the liquid part of the blood
what does blood plasma do?
carries blood cells through the blood vessels.
what does blood plasma contain?
dissolved substances like:
- carbon dioxide
- glucose
what percent of the blood does plasma make up?
55%
what’s larger, white and red blood cells?
white blood cells
do white blood cells have a nucleus?
yes, they do
what are the white blood cells apart of?
the bodies immune system
what do white blood cells attack?
pathogens
what are platelets?
fragments of larger cells
do platelets have a nucleus?
no, they don’t
what do platelets do?
makes blood clot when a blood vessel is broken
what is the significance of blood clotting?
to stop pathogens from entering the blood via the wound
what do red blood cells contain?
a haemoglobin (what makes blood red)
what do red blood cells do?
carry oxygen around the body
what shape are red blood cells?
biconcave shaped
why are red blood cells biconcave shaped?
to have a large surface area
why do red blood cells need to have a large surface area?
to diffuse oxygen into and out of the cell
do red blood cells have a nucleus?
no, they do not
why don’t red blood cells have a nucleus?
to make more room for the haemoglobin to carry oxygen
how does a white blood cell destroy a pathogen?
by surrounding/ingesting the pathogen and killing it
how does a antibody produced by white blood cells kill a pathogen?
by chemically producing antibodies that attach themselves to the pathogens and destroy them
