Blood and Blood Vessels B2

Question 1

What are the characteristics of red blood cells?

Answer 1

Red blood cells carry oxygen. They have a biconcave disc shape that maximises surface area for absorbing oxygen. They contain haemoglobin, which combines with oxygen in the lungs and releases it at the tissues. Red blood cells do not have a nucleus, so there is more space to carry oxygen.

Question 2

What does blood contain?

Answer 2

Blood contains plasma, platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells

Question 3

What is the role of capillaries?

Answer 3

Capillaries deliver nutrients to cells to remove waste products from them.

Question 4

What are the three types of blood vessels?

Answer 4

The three type of blood vessels are arteries, veins and capillaries

Question 5

What are the characteristics of arteries?

Answer 5

Arteries carry blood away from the heart. Arteries have thick outer walls with thick layers of elastic and muscle fibres because they have to carry blood under high pressure.

Question 6

What are the characteristics of veins?

Answer 6

Veins carry blood towards the heart. Veins have a large lumen (opening) and thin walls since blood is under low pressure. Veins also have valves to stop blood flowing backwards.

Question 7

What are the characteristics of capillaries?

Answer 7

Capillaries deliver nutrients to cells and remove waste products from them. Capillaries are much smaller then veins and arteries and they have very thin, permeable walls to allow substances to easily pass in out of tissues.

Question 8

What is plasma?

Answer 8

Plasma is the pale coloured liquid part of blood and it transports hormones, antibodies, nutrients (such as glucose, amino acids, vitamins and minerals) and waste substances (such as carbon dioxide and urea)