Composition of the blood

Question 1

Describe the composition of the blood:

Answer 1

Red Blood Cells
White Blood Cells
Platelets
Plasma

Question 2

What is the function of red blood cells?

Answer 2

Transport Oxygen in Haemoglobin from lungs to respiring cells for AEROBIC RESPIRATION.

Question 3

How do red blood cells transport oxygen? (describe process)

Answer 3

Absorb O2 in lungs
Pass through narrow blood vessels
Release O2 into respiring cells

Question 4

For what is HAEMOGLOBIN used for?

Answer 4

Essential for transferrin O2 in blood from lung to tissues.

Question 5

What is the function of White Blood cells?

Answer 5

Protect you against illnesses

Flow through bloodstream to fight VIRUSES, BACTERIA + OTHER FOREIGN INVADERS that affect your health.

Question 6

Of what type of cells are White Blood cells composed of?

Answer 6

Phagocytes + Lymphocytes.

Question 7

What do phagocytes do?

Answer 7

Use phagocytosis to Engulf + digest pathogens

Question 8

What do Lymphocytes do?

Answer 8

Produce ANTIBODIES to deactive antigens of bacteria.

Question 9

What is the process of antibodies production within white blood cells?

Answer 9

When bacterium or viruses enter body, Lymphocytes recognise it as FOREIGN + so they make PROTEINS called ANTIBODIES to attack those pathogens.

Question 10

What is the function of platelets?

Answer 10

cell fragments involved in blood clotting
- float about in blood waiting until we get a cut so they can rush to wound + act like a glue (hatching up the hole) (clotting)

Question 11

Why do we need platelets?

Answer 11

Tos stop blood from pouring out of us when we get a cut + to stop microorganisms getting in as they can cause an infection.

Question 12

What is the role of plasma?

Answer 12

Make blood watery so it can flow

• transport Carbon dioxide, hormones, urea, digested food + heat energy

Question 13

What do plasma carry? (detailed)

Answer 13

Carries everything (including red + white blood cells + platelets)

• carries nutrients like AMINO ACIDS+ GLUCOSE
• carries waste products like CO2 + UREA
• carries hormones, proteins + antibodies + antitoxines PRODUCED BY WHITE BLOOD CELLS.

Question 14

What are the adaptations of red blood cells?

Answer 14

NO NUCLEUS
BICONCAVE SHAPE
CONTAIN HAEMOGLOBIN
SMALL + FLEXIBLE
LARGE SA:V COMPARED TO V RATIO

Question 15

Why do red blood cells have no nucleus?

Answer 15

so they can contain more haemoglobin

Question 16

Why do red blood cells contain haemoglobin?

Answer 16

contain haemoglobin that compines with O2 to form OXYHAEMOGLOBIN to transport O2 into respiring cells

Question 17

What is the equation of OXYHAEMOGLOBIN?

Answer 17

oxygen + haemoglobin —> oxyhaemoglobin

Question 18

Why can haemoglobin combine reversibly with O2?

Answer 18

Because it combines with O2 as it passes through lungs + release O2 when it reaches the cells.

Question 19

Why do red blood cells have a biconcave shape?

Answer 19

to maximise their sufrace area for O2 absorption + increases SA:V for efficient diffusion rate of oxygen to respiring cells

Question 20

Why are red blood cells small + flexible?

Answer 20

so they can pass through narrow blood vessels