Composition of Blood Flashcards
Know the function of: Red blood cells White blood cells Platelets Plasma Know the five functions of the Blood
What is the blood comprised of?
Erythrocytes (Red blood cells - 45%)
Leucocytes (White blood cells - less than 1%)
Plasma (55%)
Platelets (Thrombocytes - less than 1%)
What adaptations of the Erythrocytes makes it easier to perform its function?
Biconcave shape - increases surfaces areas and allows for more oxygen to be absorbed and bonded to the haemoglobin
Flexible disc shape - to help it navigate around narrow capillaries
No nucleus - to allow for more oxygen uptake
contain millions of haemoglobin molecules - allows for efficient transport to the whole body.
What is the function of Plasma?
Plasma transports water and dissolved substances around the body.
What is the function of the Leucocytes (White blood cells)?
To locate, destroy and remove pathogens (bacteria and foreign matter from the body).
What is the function of the ‘Monocytes’?
The Monocytes fight off bacteria, viruses and fungi.
What is the function of the ‘Lymphocytes’?
Produce (antibodies), where these antibodies will locate foreign invader in the body, and eliminate them.
What is the function of the ‘Neutrophils’?
The Neutrophils engulf and digest bacteria.
What is the function of the Thrombocytes (platelets)?
The Thromobocytes await for breaches to the blood vessels, where they then rush to the site and clump together, to block the hole in the vessel.
What are the five functions of blood?
Fighting infection Transportation Blood clotting Temperature Regulation Exchange of materials in tissues
How does the blood transport Soluble materials?
The blood transports soluble materials in the body, in the Plasma.
How does the blood transport fats?
Both low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein transport fat.
How does the blood transport oxygen?
The haemoglobin in Erythrocytes binds to oxygen, resulting in oxyhaemoglobin, which then is translated from the lungs to respiring tissues.
How does the blood aid in temperature regulation?
The blood aids in temperature regulation by removing excess heat and redirecting it around the body.
How does the blood aid in the exchange of materials?
The Erythrocytes maintain a diffusion gradient in the capillaries in the lungs.
How does the blood aid in clotting blood?
Thrombocytes exposed to air, activate coagulation. Coagulation converts the soluble blood protein (fibrinogen) into insoluble fibrin. The fibrin forms a mesh trapping platelets and erythrocytes forming a clot.
