Blood and vessels Flashcards
What are the 3 types of blood vessels?
arteries, capillaries and veins
What do arteries do?
carry blood away from the heart
characteristics of arteries
high pressure as heart is pumping
thick muscular tissue
thick elastic tissue which allows them to stretch and recoil
branch into capillaries
small lumen
What do veins do?
carries blood to heart
Characteristics of veins
low pressure larger lumen
thinner walls
valves which stop back flow of blood as low pressure
Characteristics of capillaries
wall is only one cell thick so diffusion happens quickly
pass next to every cell
arteries branch into capillaries
What’s in blood?
blood plasma
red blood cells
white blood cells
oxygen
co2
glucose
platelets
What is blood plasma?
carries everything in blood
What are platelets?
fragments of dead cells for clotting
What do red blood cells do?
carry oxygen
What shape is a red blood cell?
a bioconcave disc
What are 2 adaptations of a red blood cell?
no nucleus so more space to store oxygen
has a red pigment which binds to oxygen
What do white blood cells do?
defend body from pathogens
How do white blood cells defend the body from pathogens?
they ingest them - phagocytosis
What do white blood cells produce?
antibodies and antitoxins
