Blood Flashcards
What do red blood cells do
They carry oxygen from the lungs to all the cells in the body
What is the point of red blood cells
Their shape is like a donut giving them a large SA for absorbing oxygen
They don’t have a nucleus giving them more room to carry oxygen
They contain a red pigment called haemoglobin
Haemoglobin bonds to oxygen to become oxyhemoglobin. In body tissues the reverse happens and oxyhamoe blah splits up into haemoglobin and oxygen to release oxygen into the cells
What do white blood cells do
They defend against infection
They change shape to consume microorganisms called phagocytosis
Other white blood cells produce antibodies to fight microorganisms and antitoxins to neutralise toxins produced by microorganisms
They do have a nucleus
What do platelets do
They help blood clot
These are small fragments of cells
They have no nucleus
They help the blood clot at wounds to stop blood pouring out and microorganisms getting in
Lack of them cause bruising and excessive bleeding
What is plasma
It is the liquid that carries everything in blood such as red and white blood cells and platelets
They carry glucose and amino acids
These are absorbed from the gut and taken to cells of the body
CO2 from organs to the lungs
Urea from liver to the kidneys
Hormones and proteins
Antibodies and toxins produced by white blood cells
Describe the purpose of platelets in blood
They help the blood clot at a wound
Outline three ways in which red blood cells are adapted to carry oxygen
Large surface area for absorbing oxygen
They don’t have a nucleus which allows more room for carrying oxygen
They contain haemoglobin which combines with oxygen in lungs and release it in body tissue
