F091 - H&SC

What are White blood cells ?

White blood cells are part of the immune system, they help protect the body b fighting infections and about 1% of blood is made up of wbc’s.

Functions of White blood cells

• Produce antibodies, which are proteins that travel around the body, they can recognise foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses which cause infections, they attach to these foreign substances and neutralise them. Antibodies stay in the body after recovering from illness in order to protect you from becoming ill again.

• Fight infections, wbc cover and kill foreign harmful particles via phagocytosis.

• Destroy cancer cells

What are red blood cells?

Cells made in the marrow of the long bones, they make up 40-45% of the blood.

What are the functions of red blood cells? + structure + how cells transport oxygen

The function of red blood cells in blood is to carry oxygen to the cells.

• Are biconcave, meaning they have a hollow surface on both sides

• Flexible, so can change shape to travel down the smallest blood vessels

• Don’t have a nucleus as they need enough space to transport as much haemoglobin

• Haemoglobin binds with oxygen, delivering it to all cells via the cardiovascular system

Plasma

• About 55% of blood is made up of plasma.

• Yellowish liquid transports blood cells and platelets around the body, also carries small amounts of other substances: protein, fats glucose and hormones.