Components of the blood

• What is the job of red blood cells?

  To carry oxygen around the body.
• What is another name for red blood cells?

  Erythrocytes.
• What are the adaptations of the red blood cells?

  -no nucleus : allows more room to carry oxygen.

  -biconcave disk shape : large SA for absorbing oxygen.

  -has haemoglobin : a red protein that contains iron which binds to oxygen.

  Lots of O2 = bright red blood

  Less of O2 = dark red blood
• What is the job of white blood cells?

  To remove foreign cells from the body
• What are the two types of white blood cells?

  Phagocytes and lymphocytes
• What are phagocytes?

  They surround foreign cells and digest them.
• What are lymphocytes?

  They produce proteins that stick to foreign cells and destroy them.
• Do white blood cells have a nucleus?

  Yes.
• What is the job of platelets?

  They are tiny fragments of cells that have no nucleus and help blood to clot.
• What is another name for platelets?

  Thrombocytes.
• What does lack of platelets cause?

  Excessive bleeding and bruising.
• What is the job of plasma?

  It is a straw coloured liquid which carries everything.
• What does plasma carry?

  -Red blood cells.

  -White blood cells.

  -Platelets.

  -Glucose.

  -Amino acids.

  -Carbon dioxide.

  -Urea.

  -Hormones.

  -Proteins.

  -Antibodies & antitoxins