Blood Components

• Platelets:

  • Platelets are Small Fragments of Cells, that help Blood CLOT at a Wound

  When you damage a Blood Vessel, Platelets clump together to 'Plug' the Damaged Area. This Stops you from Losing TOO MUCH Blood, and prevents MICROORGANISMS from Entering the Wound

  • In a Blood Clot, Platelets are held together by a Mesh of Protein called FIBRIN (and other proteins called 'Clotting Factors' to Work Properly)

  A) -

  
• Plasma:

  Plasma is a Pale Yellow Liquid, which carries everything that needs TRANSPORTING around the Body, such as:

  • Digested Food (like Glucose and Amino Acids) from the GUT ---> LIVER
  • Hormones from the BRAIN ---> PART OF THE BODY
  • Urea from the LIVER ---> KIDNEYS

  A) -

  
• White Blood Cells

  [PHAGOCYTES]:

  • Phagocytes ENGULF PATHOGENS

  Phagocytes detect things that are 'foreign' to the body (like Pathogens), and then Engulf the Microorganisms and DIGEST them

  • They are NON-SPECIFIC, so they attack ANYTHING that's not Meant to be there

  A) Pathogens

  
• White Blood Cells

  [LYMPHOCYTES]:

  • Lymphocytes PRODUCE ANTIBODIES

  Every Pathogen has Molecules, called ANTIGENS on its Surface. When Lymphocytes come across FOREIGN Antigens, they produce proteins called ANTIBODIES

  • These Antibodies LOCK ON to the Pathogens, and Mark them out for Destruction by OTHER White Blood Cells

  MEMORY CELLS are also produced, which remain in the body, to REMEMBER a Specific Antigen. Now, they can reproduce FASTER if the Same Antigen enters the Body

  A) Antigens

  B) AntiBodies

  C) Pathogens

  
• [How a VACCINATION Works...]

  • DEAD or WEAKENED Pathogens are injected into the Body

  These Inactive Pathogens carry ANTIGENS, which will trigger an Immune Response

  • The Lymphocytes PRODUCE ANTIBODIES to Attack these Dead Pathogens

  MEMORY CELLS will be produced, and remain in the Blood, so if the LIVE VERSION of the Pathogens ever appear in your System, TWICE as Many Antibodies will be produced, killing the Pathogens TWICE AS FAST

  A) Dead

  B) Antibodies

  C) lymphocytes

  D) memory cells

  E) less

  
• How Aspirin REDUCES Blood Clotting:

  • Aspirin binds to Enzyme's ACTIVE SITE

  The Active Site of the Enzyme is BLOCKED, so NO Substrate binds to it

  • So, the REACTION involving the Release of Chemicals is STOPPED

  And NO Platelets stick together

  A) -

  
• The Process of Blood Clotting:

  • Platelets ACCUMULATE at the Wound, where THROMBOPLASTIN is released

  Fibrinogen is CONVERTED to FIBRIN, and the mesh TRAPS Red Blood Cells

  • A Scab is formed, which PREVENTS the entry of Microorganisms

  A) -