Circulatory system - The blood Flashcards
What do red blood cells carry?
Oxygen.
Where does the red blood cell carry oxygen to?
From the lungs to all the cells in the body.
What shape are red blood cells?
Donut shape.
Why do red blood cells have a donut shape?
It gives them a large surface area for absorbing oxygen.
Why don’t red blood cells have a nucleus?
It allows them more room to carry oxygen.
What is the red pigment called which red blood cells contain?
Haemoglobin.
In the lungs what does combining haemoglobin and oxygen make?
Oxyhaemoglobin.
In body tissues what does oxyhaemoglobin split up to create and why?
-Haemoglobin
-Oxygen
This is to release oxygen to the cells.
What do white blood cells do?
They defend against diseases.
How do white blood cells defend against disease?
By changing shape to engulf unwelcome microorganisms.
What do white blood cells produce to fight microorganisms?
- Antibodies
- Antitoxins (to neutralise any toxins produced by the microrganisms)
What do white blood cells have unlike red blood cells?
A nucleus.
What are platelets?
They are small fragments of cells, with no nucleus.
What do platelets do?
Help blood clot.
How do platelets help us?
They help blood clot a wound, to stop all your blood pouring out and to stop microorganisms getting in.
