Red blood cells

• what is another name for red blood cells?

  erythrocytes
• why are red blood cells (erythrocytes) red?

  as they contain the pigment haemoglobin
• what is the main function of haemoglobin?

  to transport oxygen from the lungs to the respiring tissue
• what is the pigment in red blood cells (erythrocytes) that make it red?

  haemoglobin
• what 2 things make red blood cells unusual?

  • they are biconcave discs
  • they have no nucleus
• what does the biconcave shape of the red blood cell mean?

  • the surface area is larger than a plane disc, so more oxygen diffuses across the membrane
  • the thin centre makes them look paler in the middle
  • it reduces the diffusion distance making gas exchange faster
• what does the red blood cell not having a nucleus mean?

  theres more room for haemoglobin, maximising the oxygen that can be carried
• what is the size of a white blood cell (leucocytes)?

  they are larger than erythrocytes
• what are the 2 main types of white blood cells (leucocytes)?

  • granulocytes
  • agranulocytes/lymphocytes
• what is a granulocyte?

  • a type of white blood cells
  • they have granular cytoplasm
  • they have lobed nuclei
  • they are phagocytic
• what is a agranulocyte/lymphocyte?

  • a type of white blood cells
  • they have clear cytoplasm
  • they have a spherical nucleus
  • they produce antibodies and antitoxins
• what is this an image of?

  a red blood cell