Topic 5 - Functions of Blood

Question 1

what are the four main components of blood?

Answer 1

plasma, platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells

Question 2

what is plasma?

Answer 2

a pale yellow liquid which carries things that need transporting around your body

Question 3

what does plasma carry?

Answer 3

red and white blood cells, platelets, digested food products, carbon dioxide, urea, hormones and heat energy

Question 4

what do red blood cells do?

Answer 4

they transport oxygen from the lungs to all the cells in the body

Question 5

how are red blood cells adapted to their function?

Answer 5

1. they are small and biconcave to give a large surface area to absorb oxygen
2. they contain haemoglobin which bonds with oxygen to become oxyhaemoglobin
3. they don’t have a nucleus, freeing up space for more haemoglobin