Circulatory system - blood

Question 1

What are the main components of out blood?

Answer 1

• Red Blood Cells (RBC)
• White blood cells
• Platelets
• Plasma

Question 2

What is the function and characteristics of red blood cells?

Answer 2

• Make up nearly half of our blood by volume
• Responsible for transporting oxygen around the body
• Oxygen binds to haemoglobin (component of RBC’s that give the red pigment) to form oxyhaemoglobin. When RBC’s reach the tissue, the oxygen unbinds from the haemoglobin

Question 3

What is the function and characteristics of white blood cells?

Answer 3

• Make up <1% of our blood by volume
• Defend us agaisnt infections
• Phagocytosis - white blood cells ENGLUF pathogen
• WBC’s produce antibodies - bind onto and kill pathogens
• WBC’s produce antitoxins - neutralise toxins produced by pathogen
• Have a nucleus

Question 4

What is the function and characteristics of platelets?

Answer 4

• Fragments of cells - have no nucleus
• Clot our blood at a wound - stop blood loss and stop harmful pathogens getting in

Question 5

What is the function and characteristics of plasma?

Answer 5

• Make up just over half of our blood by volume
• Makes the blood watery - can flow
• Carries all other substances (RBC, platelets, etc…)
• Also carry waste products (urea & CO2)

Question 6

What are the adaptations of Red Blood Cells (RBC’s)?

Answer 6

• Biconcave shape - increased surface area
• No nucleus - more space for haemoglobin

Question 7

What happenes when there is a lack of blood?

Answer 7

• Blood transfusion
• Artifical blood - saltwater for volume (can only replace 1/3 of our blood)