THE COMPOSITION OF BLOOD

Question 1

What is the blood in the simplest definition?

Answer 1

a complex tissue flowing through the arteries and veins

Question 2

Name all the components of the blood

Answer 2

Plasma, red blood cells(erythrocytes) , White blood cells (Lymphocytes and phagocytes), Platelets

Question 3

What is the plasma?

Answer 3

Pale yellow,

*liquid part of the blood(mainly water) 55% of the blood

Question 4

What is the role of the plasma?

Answer 4

carries the blood cells around the body,
dissolved nutrients(glucose , amino acids ext..), hormones, transport C02 and UREA(waste products)
distributes heat around the body

Question 5

what are red blood cells?

Answer 5

made in bone marrow, short life span of 100 days
Contain HAEMOGLOBIN (red pigment, carries 02 from the lungs to the organs)

Question 6

What are the adaptations of the RBC’s?

Answer 6

NO NUCLEUS: more room for haemoglobin=more 02 to be carried to the respiring cells

CONTAINS HAEMOGLOBIN:contains iron and binds easily to 02 to carry to respiring cells

BICONCAVE SHAPE: higher SA:V = faster diffusion of oxygen in and out

Question 7

Which WBC engulfs the pathgon?

Answer 7

Phagocytes - engulf foreign bodies

Question 8

Which WBC produces antibodies?

Answer 8

Lymphocytes-produce antibodies

Question 9

What are White blood cells?

Answer 9

The bodies defence against disease, part of the immune system
Lymphocytes-produce antibodies 25%
Phagocytes - engulf foreign bodies 70%

Question 10

What are phagocytes?

Answer 10

They destroy foreign substances e.g bacteria by ENGULFING them in a process called PHAGOCYTOSIS

Question 11

Explain the process of PHAGOCYTOSIS

Answer 11

1. The bacteria enters
2. The phagocytes change their shape, producing extensions of their cytoplasm called PSEUDOPODIA
3. The PSEUDOPODIA enclose the microbe in a vacuole
4. Phagocytes secrets enzymes into the vacuole to break the microbe down

Question 12

What is the function of the lymphocyte?

Answer 12

to produce antibodies( a type of soluble protein) and antitoxins to destroy foreign substances(bacteria/viruses)

Question 13

What do lymphocytes do?

Answer 13

they produce chemicals called antibodies(protein) specific to particular pathogen antigens

Question 14

How exactly do lymphocytes destroy foreign bodies?

Answer 14

1. Clump the pathogens together allowing the phagocytes to engulf them more easily
2. Put a label on the pathogen so it is easily recognised by the phagocytes
3. After they are given labels the bacterial cells burst, destroying it
4. Neutralises toxins produced by the pathogen. (antitoxins)

Question 15

Which white blood cell has a large nucleus?

Answer 15

lymphocytes

Question 16

Which white blood cell has a lobed nucleus?

Answer 16

Phagocytes

Question 17

What are platelets?

Answer 17

small, fragments of cells with no nucleus(made in the bone marrow),

Question 18

What do the platelets do in simple terms?

Answer 18

clots the blood

Question 19

Explain the role of the platelets in detail

Answer 19

If a cut is exposed to the air… the platelets and DAMAGED tissues are STIMULATED in producing a chemical…

This chemical,the SOLUBLE PLASMA PROTEIN FIBRINOGEN
—–) changes into the INsoluble fibre of another protein FIBRIN

The FIBRIN forms a MESH around the wound TRAPPING RBC’S-) FROM a clot which develops into a scab

Question 20

Why are blood clots made by the platelets important?

Answer 20

SCABS-)Protects the damaged tissue while the new skin grows

They prevent further blood loss and entry of pathogens