The Blood

• Name the four main components of blood.

  red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, platelets
• What is blood?

  A tissue
• What does the liquid plasma in blood contain? (3)

  • Red Blood Cells
  • White Blood Cells
  • Platelets
• What does Blood Plasma transport around the body? (3)

  • Carbon Dioxide from the organs to the lungs
  • Soluble Products of digestion from the small intestine to other organs
  • Urea from the liver to the kidneys, where urine is made
• What shape do Red Blood Cells have?

  biconcave discs that don't have a nucleus
• What pigment do red blood cells contain?

  red pigment called haemoglobin
• What do red blood cells use their haemoglobin for?

  to bind with oxygen, which forms oxyhemoglobin in the lungs
• What do red blood cells do?

  Carry oxygen to all the organs, where the oxyhemoglobin splits back into haemoglobin and oxygen
• Do white blood cells have a nucleus?

  yes
• What do White Blood Cells do?

  Form part of the body's defence system against microorganisms
• What do different white blood cells do? (3)

  • some produce antibodies
  • some produce antitoxins
  • some engulf microorganisms
• What are platelets?

  small fragments of cells
• Do platelets have a nucleus?

  no
• What do platelets do?

  help the blood to clot at the site of a wound
• What is Blood clotting?

  a series of enzyme-controlled reactions
• What does the final reaction of blood clotting cause?

  Fibrinogen changes into fibrin
• What does fibrin form?

  a network of fibres that trap blood cells and form a clot
• What is the final part of blood clotting?

  The clot dries and forms a scab
• Label the different components of Blood:

  A) Plasma

  B) Red Blood Cell

  C) White Blood Cell

  D) Platelets