Loading…
Loading…
GCSE Biology · key term
A blood cell containing haemoglobin that transports oxygen from the lungs towards body tissues.
Used by AQA and OCR
Specification 4.2.2.3 · Paper 1
A biconcave blood cell containing haemoglobin and specialised to transport oxygen.
Revise: Blood CompositionRed blood cells, white blood cells and platelets are suspended in this plasma and carried through the blood vessels.
Specification B2.2e · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher)
A small, specialised blood cell that transports oxygen from the lungs to body tissues.
When identifying cells in a blood smear, use more than colour: red blood cells are numerous, small and lack a nucleus; white blood cells are larger and have a visible nucleus; platelets are much smaller fragments.
Do not say that red blood cells carry oxygen because they are red. Creditworthy explanations refer to haemoglobin and the cells’ adaptations.
Keep the roles of the two components distinct: most oxygen is carried by haemoglobin in red blood cells, whereas plasma carries cells and many dissolved substances.
Create a free account to read GCSE Biology revision notes for your exam board and track your progress.
Two parts are especially important for transport: red blood cells carry oxygen, while plasma carries the blood cells and a wide range of dissolved substances.
Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)
Revise: Blood ComponentsRed blood cells are suspended in it, alongside white blood cells and platelets. For this lesson, the important distinction is that red blood cells carry most of the blood’s oxygen, while plasma transports a range of other substances.