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Scaling Up

Red blood cells and plasma

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 7 (Biology)

Overview

The function of red blood cells, haemoglobin and oxyhaemoglobin, why red blood cells have no nucleus and a flattened disc shape and are small and flexible, what plasma is, the glucose, amino acids, urea and carbon dioxide dissolved in it, how plasma suits its transport role, and the cells, platelets and heat it also carries.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is formed when haemoglobin combines with oxygen, and where does this happen?

Key term

Why does a mature red blood cell have no nucleus?

Key term

Name four dissolved substances carried in plasma.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is the function of a red blood cell?

    Model answer

    To carry oxygen from the lungs to the respiring cells of the body.

  2. 2

    Which protein inside a red blood cell binds oxygen?

    Model answer

    Haemoglobin.

  3. 3

    What is formed when haemoglobin combines with oxygen, and where does this happen?

    Model answer

    Oxyhaemoglobin is formed, in the lungs where the oxygen concentration is high.

  4. 4

    Why does a mature red blood cell have no nucleus?

    Model answer

    Leaving it out makes room for more haemoglobin, so each cell can carry more oxygen.

  5. 5

    How does the shape of a red blood cell help it carry oxygen?

    Model answer

    Its flattened, dimpled disc shape gives a large surface area for its volume, so oxygen diffuses in and out quickly.

  6. 6

    Why is it useful that red blood cells are small and flexible?

    Model answer

    So they can squeeze through the narrowest capillaries and reach every tissue.

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