Circulatory System - Blood Flashcards
What are the 4 main things in blood?
Red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma.
What is the job of a red blood cell?
To carry oxygen from the lungs to all the cells in the body.
Name 3 ways a red blood cell is adapted to carry oxygen?
Their shape is a biconcave disc (doughnut) - gives a large surface area for absorbing oxygen.
They don’t have a nucleus - allows more room to carry oxygen.
They contain a red pigment called haemoglobin - combines with oxygen in the lungs and release it in body tissues.
What is the job of a white blood cell?
To defend against infection.
What is phagocytosis?
A process in which a white blood cell changes shape to gobble up unwelcome microorganisms.
Why do white blood cells produce antibodies and antitoxins?
Antibodies are produced to fight microorganisms
Antitoxins are produced to neutralise any toxins produced by the microorganisms.
What is in a white blood cell but NOT in a red blood cell?
A nucleus.
What are platelets?
They are small fragments of cells with no nucleus that helps blood clot.
What do platelets do?
They help the blood clot at a wound - to stop all of your blood pouring out and microorganisms getting in.
What happens if there is a lack of platelets?
Leads to excessive bleeding and bruising.
What is plasma?
It is the liquid that carries everything in blood?
What is carried by plasma?
Red and White blood cells Platelets Nutrients - amino acids and glucose - soluble products of digestion - absorbed from the gut and taken to the cells of the body CO2 - organs to the lungs Urea - liver to the kidneys Hormones Proteins Antibodies and antitoxins produced by white blood cells.
