Composition of the blood Flashcards
Describe the composition of the blood:
Red Blood Cells
White Blood Cells
Platelets
Plasma
What is the function of red blood cells?
Transport Oxygen in Haemoglobin from lungs to respiring cells for AEROBIC RESPIRATION.
How do red blood cells transport oxygen? (describe process)
Absorb O2 in lungs
Pass through narrow blood vessels
Release O2 into respiring cells
For what is HAEMOGLOBIN used for?
Essential for transferrin O2 in blood from lung to tissues.
What is the function of White Blood cells?
Protect you against illnesses
Flow through bloodstream to fight VIRUSES, BACTERIA + OTHER FOREIGN INVADERS that affect your health.
Of what type of cells are White Blood cells composed of?
Phagocytes + Lymphocytes.
What do phagocytes do?
Use phagocytosis to Engulf + digest pathogens
What do Lymphocytes do?
Produce ANTIBODIES to deactive antigens of bacteria.
What is the process of antibodies production within white blood cells?
When bacterium or viruses enter body, Lymphocytes recognise it as FOREIGN + so they make PROTEINS called ANTIBODIES to attack those pathogens.
What is the function of platelets?
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)
Why do we need platelets?
Tos stop blood from pouring out of us when we get a cut + to stop microorganisms getting in as they can cause an infection.
What is the role of plasma?
Make blood watery so it can flow
- transport Carbon dioxide, hormones, urea, digested food + heat energy
What do plasma carry? (detailed)
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.
What are the adaptations of red blood cells?
NO NUCLEUS BICONCAVE SHAPE CONTAIN HAEMOGLOBIN SMALL + FLEXIBLE LARGE SA:V COMPARED TO V RATIO
Why do red blood cells have no nucleus?
so they can contain more haemoglobin
Why do red blood cells contain haemoglobin?
contain haemoglobin that compines with O2 to form OXYHAEMOGLOBIN to transport O2 into respiring cells
What is the equation of OXYHAEMOGLOBIN?
oxygen + haemoglobin —> oxyhaemoglobin
Why can haemoglobin combine reversibly with O2?
Because it combines with O2 as it passes through lungs + release O2 when it reaches the cells.
Why do red blood cells have a biconcave shape?
to maximise their sufrace area for O2 absorption + increases SA:V for efficient diffusion rate of oxygen to respiring cells
Why are red blood cells small + flexible?
so they can pass through narrow blood vessels
