Heart and Blood Vessels and Blood Flashcards
all the Higher GCSE AQA content regarding the Heart, Blood and blood vessels
What is the job of the red blood cells?
to transport oxygen around the body
What shape do red blood cells have?
they have a doughnut (biconcave) shape
TRUE OR FALSE:
red blood cells have a nucleus.
false they do not have a nucleus
Why do red blood cells not have a nucleus?
so that they can absorb more blood
how do red blood cells have a larger surface area?
through their bi-concaved shape
what does having a large surface area in a red blood cell do?
allows more oxygen to be absorbed
How does having thin cell membranes in a red blood cell allow for?
efficient absorption of oxygen
Why are red blood cells very small?
so they can pass through very small vessels
What is the job of the white blood cells?
to protect the body from infection
What are the biggest type of cell?
white blood cells
TRUE OR FALSE
white blood cells have a nucleus
True
What 2 things do white blood cells produce?
antitoxins and antibodies
What do antitoxins do?
to neutralise toxins
what do antibodies do?
they kill pathogens
What is plasma?
is a yellow substance that makes your blood liquid
What does plasma do?
carries waste products and nutrients and hormones
Examples of the things Plasma carries are…
(5 examples)
urea
carbon dioxide
glucose
water
platelets
red blood cell
white blood cells
hormones
amino acids
What are platelets?
fragments of blood cells
Wat do platelets do?
help clot the blood at an opening
What is an artery?
blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart
What artery pumps de-oxygenated blood?
pulmonary artery
What pressure is blood in the arteries pumped at?
high pressure
What type of walls do arteries have?
Strong and Thick walls
TRUE OR FALSE:
arteries have valves.
False
What is a vein
a blood vessel that transports blood to the heart
What vein transports oxygenated blood to the heart?
pulmonary vein
What pressure is blood pumped at in the vein?
low pressure
TRUE OR FALSE
veins have thin walls
true
Do veins have a valve?
Yes
What is a valve?
a structure which prevents the backflow of blood
What is a capillary?
a small blood vessel which allows substances to be exchanged by the blood and cell
What type of walls do capillaries have?
very thin walls (one cell thick)
do capillaries have valves?
no
What is the benefit of capillaries having very thin walls?
allow the exchange of molecules between the blood and the body’s cells so molecules can
diffuse more efficiently.
Why do arteries have thick, muscular and elastic walls?
to pump and accommodate blood under high pressure
Why is the arteries lumen small?
to ensure the high pressure of the blood is maintained
Where does the blood flow in the heart? (in chronological order)
vena cava, right atrium, right ventricle, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, left atrium, left ventricle, aorta, rest of the body
What is the circulatory/cardiovascular system?
a system which delivers nutrients and oxygen to all cells in the body through the blood.
What type of muscle is in the heart?
cardiac muscle
What is a pacemaker?
a cell that makes the heart beat
How does a pacemaker work?
they receive electrical impulses from the brain that tells the cells to make the heart pump blood.
What happens when a pace maker fails?
it leads to an irregular heart beat
What is an artificial pacemaker?
small, battery-operated electronic device implanted in a person’s chest that sends out regular, adjustable electrical impulses to produce normal contractions of the heart.
Where does gas exchange take place?
in the alveoli
What happens in gas exchange?
oxygen diffuses into the blood and carbon dioxide diffuses out.
What are some of the adaptions the alveoli have?
large surface area
thin walls
good blood supply
good ventilation
How does a large surface area help with gas exchange?
it allows for a faster diffusion of gases across the surface.
How does thin walls help with gas exchange?
ensures a shorter diffusion distance, increasing the rate of diffusion
how does good ventilation help gas exchange?
it allows the diffusion gradients to be maintained.
How do the alveoli have good blood supply?
because of the dense capillary network around them
How does good blood supply help gas exchange?
It maintains a high concentration gradient so that the diffusion can occur faster.
What does a double circulatory system mean?
the blood passes through the heart two times
Where haemoglobin found?
in red blood cells
What does haemoglobin do?
binds with the oxygen
What is the substance in a red blood cell called when it is carrying oxygen?
oxyhaemoglobin
What does oxyhaemoglobin do to the colour of the red blood cells?
turns the colour from dark red to a bright red
