Components of Blood (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Biology)

Components of Blood

• Blood consists of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma

Composition of human blood

Components of the Blood Table

Identifying Red & White Blood Cells

• You need to be able to identify red and white blood cells in photomicrographs and diagrams

  • Red blood cells have a concave disc shape with no nucleus

  • White blood cells are usually round in shape with a nucleus

Blood micrograph

Components of Blood: Function

• Plasma is important for the transport of carbon dioxide, digested food (nutrients), urea, mineral ions, hormones and heat energy

• Red blood cells transport oxygen around the body from the lungs to cells which require it for aerobic respiration

  • They carry the oxygen in the form of oxyhaemoglobin

• White blood cells defend the body against infection by pathogens by carrying out phagocytosis and antibody production

• Platelets are involved in helping the blood to clot