SP8c The Circulatory System Flashcards
antibody
a protein produced by lymphocytes - it attaches to a specific antigen on a microorganism and helps to destroy or neutralise it
artery
a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart
blood
the fluid that carrier oxygen and other substances from the heart to the body
erythrocyte
a red blood cell
haemoglobin
the red, iron-containing pigment found in red blood cells
heart
a muscular organ in the circulatory system that pumps blood around the body
lymphocyte
a type of white blood cell that produced antibodies
phagocyte
a white blood cell that is capable of engulfing microorganisms such as bacteria
plasma
the straw-coloured liquid component of blood
platelet
cell fragments that are important in the clotting mechanism of the blood
pulse
a shock wave caused by the contraction of the heart muscles, which travels through the walls of arteries leading from the heart
red blood cell
a biconcave disc containing haemoglobin that gives blood its red colour and carries oxygen around the body to the tissues - also known as an erythrocyte
valve
a structure made of flaps of tissue that stops blood flowing in the wrong direction
vein
a blood vessel that transports blood towards the heart
white blood cell
a type of blood cell that forms part of the body’s defence system against disease - there are many different types of white blood cell (including lymphocytes and phagocytes)
