organisation - the blood

Question 1

what are the different parts of the blood?

Answer 1

white blood cells, red blood cells, plasma (liquid part of blood), platelets

Question 2

what is the job of the plasma?

Answer 2

transports substances:
-soluble digestion products (eg glucose) from small intestine to other organs
- carbon dioxide (produced in aerobic respiration) from the organs to the lungs to be breathed out
- the waste product urea from the liver to the kidneys to be excreted in urine

Question 3

what is the job of the red blood cells?

Answer 3

transport oxygen from the lungs to the body cells

Question 4

what are the adaptations of the red blood cells?

Answer 4

• carry oxygen carrying molecule haemoglobin. combining with oxygen in the lungs to form oxyhaemoglobin. then travels back to cells where it releases the oxygen
• no nucleus, more room for haemoglobin
  -biconcave disc increasing surface area so oxygen diffuse in and out rapidly

Question 5

what do the white blood cells form?

Answer 5

part of our immune system eg making antibodies

Question 6

what is the structure of a white blood cell?

Answer 6

contains a nucleus contain DNA which encodes instruction for white blood cells to do their job

Question 7

what are the uses of donated blood in medicine?

Answer 7

• to replace blood lost in an injury
• some people given platelets extracted from blood to help in clotting
• proteins extracted from blood can also be useful for example antibodies

Question 7

what are platelets?

Answer 7

tiny fragments of cells and help blood to clot around a wound

Question 8

what are the problems of using blood in medicine?

Answer 8

blood transfusions- donated blood has to be the same blood type as patients otherwise body immune system will reject blood and patient could die
infection - diseases can be transmitted

Question 9

why is infection transmitted by blood low in the UK?

Answer 9

it is screened