transport in humans Flashcards
what is the primary function of red blood cells?
it transports oxygens from the lungs to respiring cells
what are the features of the rbc and how it aids function?
-biconcave shape=greater surface area to volume ratio for an increased rate of diffusion of oxygen into and out of the cell
-contains haemoglobin=haemoglobin binds reversibly to oxyegn
-lacking most organelles=more space to pack more haemoglobin in the cell&no mitochondria to use up oxygen
what is the primary function of a white blood cell?
protect body from diseases and infections
what are the features of the wbc and how it aids function?
-irregularly shaped=allows the cell to squeeze through gaps in the capillary endothelium
-less numerous than rbc=increases in numbers when fighting pathogens
what is the function of phagocytes?
ingest foreign matter like bacteria and viruses
what is the function of lymphocytes?
produce antibodies that bind to and neutralise toxins
what are wbcs responsible for as well?
they are responsible for organ rejections after transplants
wbc can detect and destroy all foreign substances, they may recognise the cells of the newly transplanted organ as foreign and begin destruction process to get rid of all foreign substances from the body
how to avoid tissue rejection?
tissue matching using blood types and many genetic markers
or
use patients own stem cells and genetically engineer them to develop into the organ required
what is the primary function of platelets?
initiate the blood clotting process
-prevent excessive blood loss
-prevent entry of pathogens
what are the feature(s) of platelets?
small fragments of cytoplasm
what are the steps in the blood clotting process?
-platelets and damaged tissues release enzymes
-enzymes convert soluble fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin strands
-fibrin strands form a mesh over the wound to trap rbc and form a clot
what is the primary function of plasma?
medium for transport
what are the features of plasma
pale yellow fluid that is 95% water
what are the substances transported? (plasma)
useful:
-nutrients(glucose, amino acids)
-vitamins(A-E, K)
-hormones(testosterone, oestrogen, insulin)
-proteins (albumin, antibodies, enzymes)
-ions (calcium, iron, sodium)
not useful:
-urea
-co2
what do blood vessels in the body form?
a continuous network of tubes for blood to flow to and from the various organs
what do the arteries do?
they transport blood away from the heart
what do veins do?
they transport blood towards the heart
what do capillaries do?
they allow substances to be exchanged between blood and body cells
what is the vessel wall, lumen diameter, vessel diameter, presence of valves in the arteries?
thick and elastic muscular wall, narrow, large, absent
what is the vessel wall, lumen diameter, vessel diameter, presence of valves in the veins?
thin muscular wall, wide, large, present
what is the vessel wall, lumen diameter, vessel diameter, presence of valves in the capillaries?
one-cell thick endothelium, very narrow, very small. absent
what is the direction of flow, oxygen content, carbon dioxide content, blood pressure and speed for arteries?
away from heart, high except for pulmonary artery. opposite of oxygen content, very high
what is the direction of flow, oxygen content, carbon dioxide content, blood pressure and speed for veins?
towards heart, lower except for pulmonary vein, opposite of oxygen content, low
what is the direction of flow, oxygen content, carbon dioxide content, blood pressure and speed for capillaries?
through the organ, variable, opposite of oxygen content, low