Blood structure and function Flashcards
What are the functions of blood
-it transports oxygen ( in rbc’s) from lungs to tissues
-transports carbon dioxide(waste product of respiration) from tissues to lungs
-transports nutrients from digestive organs to cells (which are absorbed from in intestine)
-transports waste products from cells to kidneys, lungs and sweat glands (where they are destroyed)
-transports hormones from endocrine glands
-regulates body pH
-regulates body temp
-regulates water content of cells
-prevents body fluid loss
-protects against toxins and microbes - wbc’s - protect body - always under attack - immune response
= TRANSPORT SYSTEM AND PROTECTS - WITHOUT IT CELLS WONT SURVIVE
What is an amoeba
Single celled organism, acts independently but as soon as cell becomes part of organ it can’t act independently
What needs blood
Specialised cells part of larger organisms
What is blood not
Homogenous substance = not just one thing = made up of many components
What is the test to seperate blood into its components
- Withdraw blood from body
- Add some substance (heparin)
- put in test tube and spin at high speeds in a centrifuge
- heavy bits deposit at bottom of tube = red and light at top
What are the 2 layers which the blood seperates out to?
- Blood plasma (55% of blood)- mostly water = top layer = lightest in weight and colour
- Red blood cells (Erthrocytes)- 45% - heaviest in weight, has rbc
What is a haematocrit?
- blood is separated out into its components from spinning at high speeds in a centrifuge
What is the layer which seperates the blood plasma and erthrocytes?
small thin white layer known as a Buffy coat
-made of white blood cells
What is layer on top of the buffy coat?
Blood platelets/ thrombocytes
What is most of blood
Blood plasma and suspended within it you have red blood cells of erythrocytes
What is the composition of blood?
- blood plasma
- formed elements :
- erthrocytes ( rbc’s)
- leukocytes- white blood cells (buffy coat)
- thrombocytes(blood platelets)
What are the types and subtypes of leukocytes
- Granulocytes:
- Neutrophils
- Basophils
- Eosinophils - Agranulocytes:
- Monocytes
- Lymphocytes
Blood plasma
- Most blood plasma is water - 90%
- Suspended within the water is a variety of things apart from rbc’s such as :
- mostly proteins (8%) - most common is albumin- regulates and creates osmotic pressure called COLLOID OSMOTIC PRESSURE - makes sure water doesnt leak out of capillaries = retain water in capillaries
- globulins- alpha and beta - alpha and beta transports molecules/nutrients/proteins/antibodies, latch onto nutrients and transport them around the body
gamma globulins - they are the antibodies which are proteins produced by body to combat invading organisms
Clotting proteins- main one is fibrinogen which is responsible of the clotting of blood.- prevent the loss of blood
What is most blood plasma
Water - 90%
What proteins does blood plasma contain
- Albumin
- Gobulins - alpha, beta and gamma
- Clotting proteins
What is role of albumin in blood plasma
Regulate osmotic pressure
What is role of alpha and beta and gamma gobulins in blood plasma
Alpha and beta = transport molecules
Gamma = transport antibodies
What is role of clotting proteins in blood plasma
Prevent loss of blood
What else are dissolved in the plasma?
nutrients
Respiratory gases - CO2 and O2
What is the structure of the erthrocytes?
- they are anucleate biconcave disc
- big surface area for a small volume = important for the exchange of substances across surfaces)
- can change their shape to ‘squeeze through’ (narrow openings) capillaries due to having no nucleus as it does not restrict the shape.
- no nucleus
- 8um wide 2um thick
What is the average erthrocytes for male and females?
5,200,000 mm-3 of blood male ( 6/7 l blood )
4,700,000mm-3 of blood female ( 4/5 l blood )
How does the erthrocytes vary?
- decreases with age
- depends what height you live at
- depends on your health (anemic- less blood cells and polycythemia- too many blood cells)
How many red blood cells in body
25 billion
What is the major function of rbc’s
Transport O2