components of blood Flashcards
what are the three components of blood?
- plasma
- red blood cells
- white blood cells
what does the blood carry?
-oxygen
- carbon dioxide
- nutrients
what is the plasma?
yellow liquid containing dissolved nutrients which red and white blood cells float in
what do the nutrients in plasma include?
- amino acids
- glucose
- fatty acids + glycerol
what is the function of red blood cells?
responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the tissues in your body
carry oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood
how are red blood cells specialised to their function?
- no nucleus
- biconcave in shape (large surface area)
- contain haemoglobin forming oxyhaemoglobin
lungs
high O2
haemoglobin + oxygen –> oxyhaemoglobin
tissues
low O2
oxyhaemoglobin –> oxygen + haemoglobin
what are white blood cells part of?
immune system
what are the white blood cells responsible for?
destroying pathogens
what are pathogens?
disease causing micro-organisms
for example: bacteria, virus, fungi
what are the two main types of white blood cell?
- phagocytes
- lymphocytes
what do phagocytes do?
engulf pathogens by phagocytosis and destroy them using digestive enzymes
what do lymphocytes do?
produce antibodies to destroy pathogens
what is each antibody specific to?
a particular pathogen
