Part 5: Components of Blood

What can you see here?

Summary of the components of Blood

Solids Plasma (liquid part) –

designed to carry the
blood cells and all of the
following….
red blood cells water
white blood cells fibrinogen
platelets albumin (a protein)
antibodies
digested foods
mineral salts
vitamins
cell waste (urea, CO2)

hormones
 Red blood cells

• Carry oxygen from the lungs to the

tissues for respiration (technically, it also
carries carbon dioxide, but you dont need to
know about that until A-Level  )
• Biconcave disc shape increases surface area
• No nucleus
• Contains haemoglobin, which binds to
oxygen to form oxyhaemoglobin

Haemoglobin + Oxygen Oxyhaemoglobin

Carbon monoxide combines with haemoglobin more readily, to form

carboxyhaemoglobin. This is irreversible, and reduces oxygen
transport / uptake by the cell
Red blood cells
White Blood Cells

• Larger than red cells, but fewer of them

• No fixed shape
• Many different types, which respond to
different antigens on the surface of
pathogens (molecules that trigger the
immune system):
a) phagocytes, which engulf pathogens
and digest them (in a process called
phagocytosis)
b) lymphocytes, which are made by
lymph glands, and are involved in
antibody production when fighting
infection
 LYMPHOCYTE
- Smaller than phagocyte
- Large, dark round nucleus
- Less cytoplasm.

PHAGOCYTE
- Larger than lymphocyte
- Nucleus appears lobed
- More cytoplasm.

Draw a picture of the two main types of white blood – phagocyte and lymphocyte
White Blood Cells

• Larger than red cells, but fewer of them

• No fixed shape
• Many different types:
a) phagocytes, which engulf pathogens
and digest them (in a process called
phagocytosis)
b) lymphocytes, which are made by
lymph glands, and are involved in
antibody production when fighting
infection
Platelets

• Platelets are involved in the

clotting process
•Help prevent blood loss, but also
the entry of pathogens when
blood vessels are damaged
•Use calcium to convert the
soluble protein fibrinogen into
the insoluble protein fibrin – it is
this which forms the mesh/clot
 Platelets
and Blood Clot
 Blood Smear

Many types of blood cell are 10

μm in size or less. You will need
high power to examine them.

An example of a commonly-used stain is Giemsa stain.

It aids identification by staining:
Red blood cells Pink
Platelets Pale pink
White blood cell cytoplasm Pale blue
White blood cell nuclei Magenta
Blood: components

• Plasma – liquid portion of the

blood
• Erythrocytes – (red blood cells)
– carry oxygen (and some
carbon dioxide)
• Leucocytes – (white blood
cells) – protect the body against
infection – phagocytes and
lymphocytes
• Platelets – cell fragments assist
in clotting

plasma
There are small holes between the
endothelial cells of the capillary. This
allows for the exchange of materials.
Plasma is able to leak
out of the capillary, and
bathe all of the cells,
allowing for diffusion of
substances.
We call this plasma, the
‘tissue fluid’. It is also
able to carry heat from
the liver and muscles to
all parts of the body.
Substances can’t just move from the
blood to inside the cells – they need a
form of transport medium
 Pulmonary thromboses

Blood clot in the Brain

Blood: components
Task 2
In your groups, you will be
assigned a blood component

You must…
• Prepare a 2 minute presentation
to inform your classmates about
your component

Plasma
Red blood cell
Lymphocyte (white blood cell)
Phagocyte (white blood cell)
Platelets
plasma
Blood: components (20Qs)
1. Which has a nucleus?
2. Which is the liquid part of the blood?
3. Which carries nutrients such as glucose?
4. Which carries oxygen?
5. Which cell does not have a nucleus?
6. Which contains haemoglobin?
7. Which is not a proper cell, just a fragment?
8. Which digests microbes?
9. Which makes antibodies?
10. Which has a biconcave disc shape?
11. Which increases in number if we get an infection?
12. Which carries hormones?
13. Which is shaped to have a large surface area?
14. Which carries carbon dioxide?
15. Which helps the blood to clot and make a scab?
16. Which is a straw coloured liquid?
17. Which is mis-shaped in sickle cell anaemia?
18. Which has two types?
19. Also known as red blood cells?
Blood: components (20Qs)
1. Which has a nucleus? white blood cells
2. Which is the liquid part of the blood? Plasma
3. Which carries nutrients such as glucose? Plasma
4. Which carries oxygen? red blood cells
5. Which cell does not have a nucleus? red blood cells
6. Which contains haemoglobin? red blood cells
7. Which is not a proper cell, just a fragment? Platelet
8. Which digests microbes? phagocytes (white blood cells)
9. Which makes antibodies? lymphocytes (white blood cells)
10. Which has a biconcave disc shape? red blood cells
11. Which increases in number if we get an infection? lymphocytes (white b.cells)
12. Which carries hormones? Plasma
13. Which is shaped to have a large surface area? red blood cells
14. Which carries carbon dioxide? Plasma
15. Which helps the blood to clot and make a scab? Platelets
16. Which is a straw coloured liquid? Plasma
17. Which is mis-shaped in sickle cell anaemia? red blood cells
18. Which has two types? white blood cells (leucocytes)
19. Also known as red blood cells? erythrocytes
20. Also known as white blood cells? leucocytes
Try the questions about this topic on the KYTOS Revision Doctor