Transport tissue
Blood is a transport tissue despite it containing a vast number of different types of cells. Blood cells transport oxygen around the body. However, all other components in the blood stream are being transported around the body in plasma. This is a yellow liquid containing water with dissolved solutes in it. Platelets are dead red blood cells that are significant in getting wounds to clot.
Components of the blood stream and where they are transported to/ from
White blood cells/ memory cells are transported from the lymph nodes to anywhere around the body that may have been infected with a pathogen. They consist of phagocytes and lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are divided into t and b cells for specific immunity.
Oxygen is transported from the alveoli to all cells in the body that respire.
Carbon dioxide is transported from all cells [as a waste product of respiration] to the alveoli where it is removed through diffusion.
Glucose is transported from the capillaries in the villi to everywhere in the body, to cells that respire.
Urea is transported as a waste product from all cells to the kidneys where it is removed as part of excretion. In particular, it is a waste product from the breakdown of proteins.
Hormones are transported from glands, the ovaries to specific cells.
How is a red blood cell adapted to transport as much oxygen as possible
A red blood cell is a bioconcave shape. This means it can travel through very small blood vessels such as capillaries.
It is enucleate. They have no nucleus to make space for more haemoglobin to absorb as much oxygen as possible.
Haemoglobin is made from iron.
Blood cells respire anaerobically as to not take any oxygen hence they have no mitochondria.
Their shape is essentially a flat disk with a dip in the middle to increase the surface area. A large surface area means a large volume of oxygen that can be transported. The diffusion distance is also decreased with this structure enabling oxygen to diffuse quickly into cells.
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