9.

3 Blood and lymphatic vessels

• Describe the structure and functions of arteries, veins and capillaries
• Explain how the structures of arteries, veins and capillaries are adapted for their functions
• State the function of arterioles, venules and shunt vessels
• Describe the transfer of materials between capillaries and tissue fluid (details of the roles of water potential and
hydrostatic pressure are not required)
• Outline the lymphatic system in terms of lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes
• Describe the function of the lymphatic system in the circulation of body fluids and the protection of the body
from infection

Blood Vessels: Main artery = AORTA & Main vein = VENA CAVA
Type Transverse Section Longitudinal Section Adaptation of Structure to Function
Artery  Carries blood ________________________
 Blood at ____________________________
 Rich in________________, low in wastes &
CO2 (except for pulmonary artery)
 _____________ ______________ as blood
is forced out of the heart (cause the pulse)
 _________________ can _______________
____________________________________
 _____________ ______________ to control
the blood flow according to body’s needs
Vein  Carries blood from body tissues to heart
 Blood at __________________
 Low in oxygen & nutrients, high in _______
_____________(except for pulmonary vein)
 ___________________________________
 Blood is at low pressure but ____________
________________ assist to ____________
____________________ and help push
blood back towards heart
 ___________________________________
___________________________________
 Vessel not round-shape: walls not thick
enough to hold shape
Capillaries  Very thin: only ______________________ :
___________________________________
___________________________________
 Very large ___________________________
________ – more area for efficient diffusion
 Extend through all tissues
 __________________________________
to _________________________________
of dissolved substances
  Arterioles = smaller arteries that
connect main artery to capillaries.
Can _____________
__________________________
__________________________
 Venules = smaller vein vessels
that connect capillaries to main
vein
 Shunt Vessels = Blood vessel that
links arteries directly to veins,
allowing blood to bypass
capillaries

These vessels help in the ___________

________________________________ =
Important for control of body temperature (14.4 Homeostasis)

The travels of blood through capillaries.

As blood goes enters the capillaries through the
arterioles, it slows down. This allows __________,
______________ from RBC, and ______________ to
diffuse through the capillaries and into the body cells
and tissues. The liquid that _______________
_______________ are called _______________. In
return, ___________________________ and some of
the tissue fluid diffuse back into the capillaries and is
carried away by venules and veins.
Tissue Fluid & Lymph
Tissue fluid is formed from _______________ but contains ____________
or __________________. Tissue fluid returns to the blood via two ways:
1) _____________________________________ (90%) : If blood
plasma has a low concentration of solutes, water cannot return
into the blood effectively, and the body tissues will be filled up
with fluid. If the body is lacking plasma proteins (*kwashiorkor),
the body swells up.
2) _____________________________________ (10%): The fluid can
enter the ________________ which
______________________________.
 The ________________________________________________ as
well (___________________________________)
 As lymph returns to the blood vessels, it is filtered through
_________ ________________ which
______________________________________ _______________________ that can
 _____________________________ that have infected the body:
____________________________________

9.4 Blood
• List the components of blood as red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma
• Identify red and white blood cells (Lymphocytes & Phagocytes), as seen under the light microscope, on prepared
slides and in diagrams and photomicrographs
• State the functions of the following components of blood:
– red blood cells in transporting oxygen, including the role of haemoglobin
– white blood cells: lymphocytes – antibody production & phagocytes – phagocytosis
– platelets in clotting (details are not required)
– plasma in the transport of blood cells, ions, soluble nutrients, hormones and carbon dioxide
• Describe the process of clotting as the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin to form a mesh
• State the roles of blood clotting as preventing blood loss and preventing the entry of pathogens

Blood Circulatory System

i. A system of tubes = arteries and veins, to carry the fluid
ii. A pump = heart, to keep fluid moving
iii. Sites of exchange = capillaries, allow materials to be delivered to the tissue cells
iv. A medium = blood, fluid that flows and carry materials

Our BLOOD
- First formed in the bone marrow of long bones
- __________________________, _________________ with a small percentage of WBC and platelets

A. RBC (Red Blood Cells) – also known as _______________________

 _______________________ from lungs to all respiring tissues
 ______________________________________ from the
respiring cells to the lungs
o _______________________ (iron containing pigment)
that carries oxygen molecules
o _____________, leaving more space for haemoglobin
o Cells are _________________________ to be able to
flow through capillaries

B. WBC (White Blood Cells) – Leucocytes

Two types:
1. ________________ – remove any microorganism that
enters the body through ______________ (engulfing)
a. Irregular shaped nucleus allows cells to
squeeze through gaps in walls of capillaries
b. Digestive enzymes in cytoplasmic vesicles
______________________________________
c. Have sensitive cell surface membrane
receptors that can detect microorganisms
 2. ___________________ – produce ______________ (proteins that helps in defence against diseases)
a. Large nucleus contains many copies of genes for the control of antibody protein production

C. Platelets = Cell fragments involved in _____________________, can release blood-clotting enzymes

D. Plasma = _______________ that transports blood cells, ____________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

Functions of the Blood

i. Regulatory Function – regulates movement of water, ___________________, maintain optimum pH
ii. Protective Function – ___________________ protect against blood loss and entry of pathogen
– WBC protect against disease causing organisms: ______________________
iii. Transport Function:
a) __________________________ = glucose, amino acid vitamins and minerals
b) __________________________ = urea, creatinine, lactate – transported to liver/kidney
c) respiratory gases (________________________) & ____________________ such as insulin
iv. Support Function – erection of penis is achieved by filling large spongy spaces with blood

BLOOD CLOTTING: Important to prevent blood loss and entry of pathogen (organism that cause diseases)

1. _____________ activated by: torn capillaries, exposure to air

Platelets  gather and temporarily
plug wound  ________________
2. Enzymes + Ca2+ (calcium ions) +
clotting factors
3. Changes _____________________
(an inactive and soluble blood
protein)  _______________
(activated insoluble blood protein)
4. Fibrin = ______________________
 That helps _________________
5. RBC dry out to form a scab, closes
wound
9.3 Blood and lymphatic vessels
• Describe the structure and functions of arteries, veins and capillaries
• Explain how the structures of arteries, veins and capillaries are adapted for their functions
• State the function of arterioles, venules and shunt vessels
• Describe the transfer of materials between capillaries and tissue fluid (details of the roles of water potential and
hydrostatic pressure are not required)
• Outline the lymphatic system in terms of lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes
• Describe the function of the lymphatic system in the circulation of body fluids and the protection of the body
from infection

Blood Vessels: Main artery = AORTA & Main vein = VENA CAVA
Type Transverse Section Longitudinal Section Adaptation of Structure to Function
Artery  Carries blood from heart to body tissues
 Blood at high pressure
 Rich in oxygen & nutrients, low in wastes
& CO2 (except for pulmonary artery)
 Elastic wall expands and relax as blood is
forced out of the heart (cause the pulse)
 Thick walls can withstand the high
pressure of blood
 Ring of muscles widen or narrow to
control the blood flow according to body’s
needs
Vein  Carries blood from body tissues to heart
 Blood at low pressure
 Low in oxygen & nutrients, high in wastes
& CO2 (except for pulmonary vein)
 Valves prevent backflow of the blood
 Blood is at low pressure but skeletal
muscle assist to squeeze the veins and
help push blood back towards heart
 Large lumen diameter and thin walls
reduce resistance to blood flow
 Vessel not round-shape: walls not thick
enough to hold shape
Capillaries  Only one cell thick - Substances easily
diffuse across a short distance from blood
vessels to body tissues
 Very large surface area & highly branched
– more area for efficient diffusion
 Extend through all tissues
  Constantly supplied with fresh blood to
maintain concentration gradient of
dissolved substances
 Arterioles = smaller arteries that connect
main artery to capillaries. Can widened or
become narrower to control blood flow.
 Venules = smaller vein vessels that
connect capillaries to main vein
 Shunt Vessels = Blood vessel that links
arteries directly to veins, allowing blood
to bypass capillaries

These vessels help in the control of blood flow

by constriction and dilation = Important for
control of body temperature (14.4 Homeostasis)

The travels of blood through capillaries.

As blood goes enters the capillaries through the
arterioles, it slows down. This allows nutrients,
oxygen from RBC, and plasma fluid to diffuse
through the capillaries and into the body cells
and tissues. The liquid that flows out and bath
the cells are called tissue fluid. In return, waste
products, carbon dioxide and some of the tissue
fluid diffuse back into the capillaries and is
carried away by venules and veins.
Tissue Fluid
& Lymph
Tissue fluid is formed from plasma. It contains no RBC or plasma
proteins.
Tissue fluid returns to the blood via two ways:
1) Return to the capillaries via osmosis (90%) : If blood plasma has
a low concentration of solutes, water cannot return into the
blood effectively, and the body tissues will be filled up with fluid.
If the body is lacking plasma proteins (*kwashiorkor), the body
swells up.
2) Through the lymphatic system (10%): The fluid can enter the
lymph vessels which returns the lymph into the blood.
 The lacteals connect to the lymphatic system as well (digested
fat-soluble molecules too large to enter blood capillaries)
 As lymph returns to the blood vessels, it is filtered
through lymph nodes which produce and contains many
 lymphocytes (WBC) that can remove harmful microbes that have infected the body: Protect
the body from infection
 The lymph is moved along the lymph vessels by contraction of skeletal muscles and surrounding
tissues to squeeze the lymph along
 The lymph vessels also contain valves that prevent backflow of lymph
9.4 Blood
• List the components of blood as red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma
• Identify red and white blood cells (Lymphocytes & Phagocytes), as seen under the light microscope, on prepared
slides and in diagrams and photomicrographs
• State the functions of the following components of blood:
– red blood cells in transporting oxygen, including the role of haemoglobin
– white blood cells: lymphocytes – antibody production & phagocytes – phagocytosis
– platelets in clotting (details are not required)
– plasma in the transport of blood cells, ions, soluble nutrients, hormones and carbon dioxide
• Describe the process of clotting as the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin to form a mesh
• State the roles of blood clotting as preventing blood loss and preventing the entry of pathogens

Blood Circulatory System

i. A system of tubes = arteries and veins, to carry the fluid
ii. A pump = heart, to keep fluid moving
iii. Sites of exchange = capillaries, allow materials to be delivered to the tissue cells
iv. A medium = blood, fluid that flows and carry materials

Our BLOOD
- First formed in the bone marrow of long bones
- 55% are made up of plasma, 45% are RBC with a small percentage of WBC and platelets

A. RBC (Red Blood Cells) – also known as erythrocytes

 transport oxygen from lungs to all respiring tissues
 prepare carbon dioxide for transportation from
the respiring cells to the lungs
o Contains haemoglobin (iron containing pigment) that
carries oxygen molecules
o Have no nucleus, leaving more space for haemoglobin
o Cells are small and flexible to be able to squeeze
through capillaries

B. WBC (White Blood Cells) – Leucocytes

Two types:
3. Phagocytes – remove any microorganism that enters
the body through phagocytosis (engulfing)
a. Irregular shaped nucleus allows cells to
squeeze through gaps in walls of capillaries
b. Enzymes in cytoplasmic vesicles digest
microorganisms
 c. Have sensitive cell surface membrane receptors that can detect microorganisms
4. Lymphocytes – produce antibodies (proteins that helps in defence against diseases)
a. Large nucleus contains many copies of genes for the control of antibody protein production

C. Platelets = Cell fragments involved in blood clotting, can release blood-clotting enzymes

D. Plasma = watery liquid that transports blood cells, food molecules, ions, soluble nutrients,
hormones, waste products such as carbon dioxide and urea

Functions of the Blood

i. Regulatory Function – regulates movement of water, heat distribution, maintain optimum pH
ii. Protective Function – platelets protect against blood loss and entry of pathogen
– WBC protect against disease causing organisms: phagocyte & lymphocyte
iii. Transport Function:
d) soluble products of digestion = glucose, amino acid vitamins and minerals
e) waste products of metabolism = urea, creatinine, lactate – transported to liver/kidney
f) respiratory gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) & hormones such as insulin
iv. Support Function – erection of penis is achieved by filling large spongy spaces with blood

BLOOD CLOTTING: Important to prevent blood loss and entry of pathogen (organism that cause diseases)

1. Platelets activated by: torn capillaries, Exposure to air,

Platelets  gather and
temporarily plug wound 
release enzyme
2. Enzymes + Ca2+ (calcium ions)
+ clotting factors
3. Changes Fibrinogen (an
inactive and soluble blood
protein)  Fibrin (activated
insoluble blood protein)
4. Fibrin = forms a mesh of
fibers  That helps trap red
blood cells
 5. RBC dry out to form a scab, closes wound

Add on*
The lymphatic vessel takes the lymph to the blood stream by secreting them in a vein
near the heart, called subclavian vein. The lymph in the lymphatic vessels are
moved along by the squeeze of muscles against the vessel, just like some veins. It
has no pump, move passively. Have valves to ensure one-way flow of lymph.  

The return of tissue fluid to the blood in the form of lymph fluid prevents fluid built up
in the tissue.