Module 3E Flashcards
Name the three components & the functions of the blood
Red Blood Cells - transport oxygen
White Blood Cells - defend body against disease
Platelets - involved in clotting
Explain how the structure of a red blood cell is adapted to it’s function.
Small and biconcave - small surface area to volume ratio and fits through capillaries
Contains haemoglobin - carries oxygen around the body
Lack of nucleus - more room for carrying oxygen
How does haemoglobin do its job?
Haemoglobin reacts with oxygen in the lungs to form oxyhemoglobin and then when the red blood cells reach the tissue the reverse reaction will happen and oxygen will be released.
List the three main blood vessels and the way in which they help transport.
Arteries - carry blood away from the heart
Capillaries - allow the exchange of materials with tissue
Veins - carry blood away from the heart
Why is the blood in the arteries under so much pressure?
Blood is pumped away from the heart under a lot of pressure
How is the artery adapted to the high pressure?
It has a thick muscular and elastic cell wall
How are the capillaries adapted for materials exchange?
Thin permeable cell wall to allow diffusion in and out
Cell wall is one cell thick to increase rate of diffusion as there is less distance for it to happen
How are the veins adapted to the low pressure flow?
They have a large lumen and valves to prevent back flow.
What type of circulatory system do mammals have?
Double
Why is a double circulatory system good?
Blood pumped at high pressures so rate of flow to tissue is increased
What does the right side of the heart connect to?
The lungs
Explain fully the journey for the right side of the heart.
Deoxygenated blood enters through the vena cava
Deoxygenated blood is received by the right atrium
The tricuspid valve prevents back flow
The blood is pumped by the right ventricle through the pulmonary artery
What does the left side of the heart connect to?
Rest of the body
Explain the journey of the blood on the left side of the heart.
Oxygenated blood enters through the pulmonary vein
Oxygenated blood is received by the left atrium
The bicuspid valve prevents back flow
The right ventricle pumps blood through the aorta
Why does the left ventricle have a thicker muscle wall than the right ventricle?
The left ventricle needs to pump blood to the rest of the body so it’s under much more pressure.
