Cardiovascular - Blood Flashcards
What is an erythrocyte?
A red blood cell
What do erythrocytes do?
Transport oxygen around the body
What shape are erythrocytes?
Biconcave - increases surface area
Why do erythrocytes not have a nucleus?
More space for haemoglobin
What is a lymphocyte?
A type of white blood cell - T-cells and B-cells
What do lymphocytes do?
Part of the immune system - fight infection
What are T-cells?
Produce antibodies to fight antigens
What are B-cells?
Destroy body’s infected cells
Do lymphocytes have a large or small nucleus?
Large
What are neutrophils?
A type of white blood cell
What type of nucleus do neutrophils have?
Multi-lobed
What is the most common type of WBC
Neutrophils
Which 2 WBC’s do phagocytosis?
Neutrophils and monocytes
Which is the largest WBC?
Monocytes
Which WBC has a di-shaped nucleus?
Monocytes
Where are monocytes formed?
Bone marrow
What are platelets?
Fragments of larger cells
What shape is a platelet?
Disc-shaped
What do platelets do?
Helps blood clot and wounds heal
What is plasma?
A clear/yellow liquid that carries undissolved substances
What protein does plasma carry?
Fibrinogen
What does plasma regulate?
Body temperature
What is the main function of blood?
Transport elements around body
What does blood transport?
Fats - substances that cannot disolve in water - carried by lipoproteins
Gases - oxygen and CO2
Hormones
What are fats in blood transported for?
Energy and storage
What proteins are fats transported with?
Lipoproteins
What do LDL’s do?
Deposit fat and cholesterol in arteries
What do HDL’s do?
Prevent or reverse deposits left by LDL’s
What gases does blood carry?
Oxygen and carbon dioxide
What hormones does blood carry?
Adrenaline and insulin
Why do hormones travel in the blood?
To reach target organs/cells where they trigger a response
What happens to enzymes when it gets too hot?
They denature
What does the body do when it gets too hot?
Vasodialation - arteries widen and go up, heat goes from blood to sweat which evaporates
What does the body do when it gets too cold?
Vasoconstriction - arteries narrow and go down to organs, goosebumps and hairs stand up - trap air
How does blood prevent infection?
- Neutrophils and B-cells recognise pathogens which act as antigens
- Form antibodies and lock onto pathogens - targets for monocytes - kill and break down
What do special lymphocytes remember?
Particular pathogens which respond quickly if pathogens come back
Why are viruses different to other pathogens?
They need to hijack cells to survive and reproduce - T-cells recognise it and latch onto cell to destroy virus
What happens when skin is exposed to air or foreign material?
Platelets (fragments from bone marrow) activate a chain reaction called coagulation
What happens during coagulation?
Converts soluble blood protein fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin
What does fibrin do?
Forms a net-like structure trapping platelets and RBC’s to form clot
