LO1- Cardiovascular System Flashcards
What are the components of blood?
Erythrocytes Leucocytes Lymphocytes Neutrophils Monocytes Platelets Plasma
Describe the structure of erythrocytes
They have a thin, biconcave, disc-like shape. They have no nucleus for a large surface area to carry the maximum amount of haemoglobin. They are red because of haemoglobin. They are round and flattened. They are small and flexible so that they can get into capillaries.
What do erythrocytes do?
Transport oxygen and carbon dioxide within the body.
What do leucocytes do?
Role in defence and immunity. Detect abnormal materials and destroy them.
B cells and T cells are types of
Lymphocytes
What to B cells do?
Produce antibodies to destroy antigens like bacteria, viruses or toxins.
What do T cells do?
Destroy the body’s own cells that have been taken over by viruses or become cancerous.
What are neutrophils?
Highly mobile leucocytes that protect the body against bacterial infection.
What do monocytes do?
Rush to the site of germs to attack.
What does plasma do?
Transportation. Carries proteins including fibrinogen, which helps with blood clotting. Helps with temperature regulation by blood removing heat from tissues such as muscles and circulating it around the body.
Why does the left ventricle have the thickest muscular wall?
It has to pump blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
Describe the aorta.
The main artery of the body that leaves the heart from the left ventricle.
What does the pulmonary artery do?
Carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.
What does the pulmonary vein do?
Carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.
What is pulmonary circulation?
The right side of the heart receives deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs.
