The blood Flashcards
(37 cards)
What makes up the human circulatory system?
The blood, blood vessels, and heart
What does the human circulatory system do?
transporting oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to cells throughout the body, and removing waste products like carbon dioxide.
What is blood?
blood is a tissue consisting of plasma, in which the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets are suspended
What are the functions of blood?
-transports O2 to the rest of the body so cells can do aerobic respiration and release energy
-transports CO2 from all cells back to the lungs
transports nutrients from digestive system to all cells.
-transports waste products from cells to the liver and kidney for treatment and disposal
-transports heat around the body
-transports water around the body
-transports salts around the body
-transports white blood cells to fight infections
-transports hormones around the body
What 4 main components is blood made up of?
-red blood cells
-white blood cells
-platelets
-plasma
Diagram of red blood cells:
Red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, are round, disc-shaped cells with a distinct indentation in the center, resembling a doughnut without a hole
Function of red blood cells:
-to carry oxygen in the blood from the lungs to the cells in the body’s tissues so that they can do aerobic respiration and release energy to be able to do their processes
Adaptations of red blood cells:
-biconcave disk shape means that cell has large SA:V which helps it to absorb oxygen as it increases the efficiency of diffusion of oxygen into and out of the cell and reduces the diffusion distance to the centre of the cell
-doesn’t contain a nucleus - increases space for haemoglobin and creates room inside the cells allowing them to carry more oxygen
-red blood cells contain a substance called haemoglobin (a red chemical which contains iron)
- helps red blood cells to absorb oxygen as it binds to oxygen which means it can transport it from the lungs to the body’s tissues.
-in the lungs haemoglobin combines with oxygen to form oxyhaemoglobin
-in the body’s tissues, oxyhaemoglobin breaks down to haemoglobin, releasing oxygen from the red blood cell - the released oxygen can be taken up by cells
-they are tiny and flexible so that they can fit through narrow capillaries
How do red blood cells travel?
red blood cells travel suspended in the plasma
What is the most common blood cell?
red blood cells
Diagram of white blood cells:
-They are generally round or oval with a distinct nucleus. Different types of white blood cells have unique structures and colors, which help distinguish them.
Function of white blood cells:
-Are part of the immune system so their function is to defend the body against infections from microorganisms (pathogens) e.g. bacteria
What are the two type of white blood cells?
-Phagocytes
-Lymphocytes
How do white blood cells travel?
white blood cells travels suspended in plasma
Function of phagocytes:
Function of phagocytes:
Adaptations of phagocytes:
-are very flexible so they can kill microorganisms by surrounding and engulfing them.
-once the microorganism is inside the phagocyte it is digested by powerful enzymes and killed.
-phagocytes are attracted to bacteria because
bacteria produce waste products (chemicals) called toxins (these are the chemicals that make us feel ill)
- when a phagocyte moves towards a bacterium it surrounds it and engulfs it this is called phagocytosis
Function of lymphocytes:
-to produce chemicals called antibodies
-antibodies stick onto foreign micro-organisms in the blood, this either kills the microorganisms or causes them to clump together making it easier for phagocytes to engulf and destroy them
-protect the body as they are able to neutralise the harmful poisons or ‘toxins’ produced by microorganisms
Adaptations of lymphocytes:
-As part of the adaptive immune response, some lymphocytes proliferate and differentiate into memory cells,
-which are able to respond faster and more efficiently the next time the same pathogen invades.
-T lymphocytes (T cells): T cells control your body’s immune system response and directly attack and kill infected cells and tumor cells.
-B lymphocytes (B cells): B cells make antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that target viruses, bacteria and other foreign invaders.
Diagram of platelets:
Platelets are small, colorless cell fragments. They form in the shape of a plate, which is where they get their name.
Function of platelets:
Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are tiny blood cells crucial for stopping bleeding and forming clots. They are produced in the bone marrow and circulate in the blood, ready to respond to injury.
Adaptations of platelets:
Small size and irregular shape:
This allows them to squeeze through blood vessels and reach the site of injury.
Flexibility:
They can change shape and extend long filaments to form a plug at the wound.
Surface proteins:
These proteins help them stick to the exposed collagen fibers of damaged blood vessels.
Secretion of chemicals:
Platelets release chemicals that activate other clotting factors and promote aggregation of more platelets.
Formation of a clot:
They help to convert fibrinogen into fibrin, forming an insoluble mesh that traps red blood cells and other platelets, creating a clot that seals the wound
How do platelets travel?
Platelets travel through the bloodstream, primarily within the blood plasma.
what is blood clotting and how does it work?
-Blood clotting, or coagulation, is an important process that prevents excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured.
-Platelets (a type of blood cell) and proteins in your plasma (the liquid part of blood) work together to stop the bleeding by forming a clot over the injury.
diagram of plasma
Plasma is a pale, yellowish or straw-colored liquid when you separate it from red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
