Components of blood

• Red Blood Cells:

  • Their role is to carry oxygen from lungs to all cella in body
  • Shape is a biconcave disc which gives large surface area
  • Don't have nucleus which allows for more room to carry oxygen
  • Contains haemoglobin - haemoglobin binds to oxygen to become oxyhaemoglobin
  • In body tissues, oxyhaemoglobin splits into oxygen and haemoglobin which releases oxygen to cells
• White Blood Cells:

  • Some can change shape to engulf microorganisms - phagocytosis
  • Can produce antibodies to fight microorganisms
  • Can produce antitoxins to neutralise toxins produced by microorganisms
  • Have a nucleus
• Platelets:

  • Small fragments of cells
  • Have no nucleus
  • Help clot wounds
  • Lack of platelets can cause excessive bleeding and bruising
• Plasma:

  Liquid which carries:

  • Red/white blood cells
  • Platelets
  • Nutrients
  • Carbon dioxide
  • Urea
  • Hormones
  • Proteins
  • Antibodies/antitoxins