blood

• 4 uses of blood:

  1. transport medium
  2. maintaining body temp.
  3. pH buffer (bc mostly water)
  4. blood clotting
• centrifugation - technique to separate blood components
• feature of erythrocytes:

  • biconcave- more space for haemoglobin and oxygen
  • haemoglobin - has affinity for oxygen
  • no nucleus/mitochondria - so can have more haemoglobin
  • diameter similar to capillary diameter (6-8pm) - slows blood to enable diffusion
• disadvantage of erythrocytes:

  • shorter lifespan
  • anaerobic respiration - produces lactic acid