1. Entry slip: Where is O2 “picked up” by the blood and
where is it “dropped off”?
Lesson 4.3- Compare the characteristics of blood
components.
(p308) of Biology-McGraw-Hill Ryerson)
I. Terms:
a.Blood components: red blood cells, white
blood cells, platelets and blood plasma
are all different blood components
b.“-cyte”: cell
c. µm: micrometre, or, 1/1000th of a
millimetre
d. relative size: the size of the particles
compared to other similar substances (in
this case, other blood components)
II. Components of Blood:
a.Red Blood Cells (also known as
Erythrocytes)

2. i. Appearance: red, donut-like (no hole
in middle, though)
ii. Origin: made in red bone marrow
iii. Numbers:
A. 5,500,000 (male) 4,500,000
(female) per cubic millimetre of
blood
B. 44% of blood
iv. Relative Size: small compared to
other blood components (8 µm
diameter)
v. Functions: carries O2 and CO2 to and
from the body’s cells
b. White Blood Cells -Leucocytes
i. Appearance: spherical (like a ball)
ii. Origin: red bone marrow
iii. Numbers: 6000/mm3 of blood – 0.5%
of blood
iv. Relative Size: largest (up to 25 µm)

3. v. Functions: kills foreign particles such
as bacteria and fungi by engulfing
them then digesting them
A. Youtube search: “ZIZ 074
Makrophage frisst
Pneumokokken – phagocytosis”
B. Doctors will test you for illness by
measuring the amount of
leucocytes in your blood-if you
have much more that 6000/mm3
you are probably fighting an
infection
c. White Blood Cells -Lymphocytes
i. Appearance: spherical
ii. Origin: spleen and lymph glands
iii. Numbers: 2000/mm3 of blood – 0.5%
of blood
iv. Relative Size: large (about 10 µm)
v. Functions: forms antibodies fight
bacteria and viruses

4. A.Anti-bodies are like specialized
proteins that are “trained” to
quickly recognize a type of virus
or bacteria that has been in the
body before and help the white
blood cells kill it– we call this
“immunity”
B. Youtube search: “3D Medical
Animation: Antibody Immune
Response”-nucleusanimation
d. Platelets
i. Appearance: jagged
ii. Origin: red bone marrow and lungs
iii. Numbers: 250,000 per mm3 of blood
iv. Relative Size: very small (only about 2
µm)
v. Functions: group up with other
platelets and become very sticky to
form blood clots when a blood vessel
is broken.

5. A. Hemophiliac: “hemo” means
blood, and “philiac” means “likes
to”, so hemophiliacs “like to
bleed” – their blood does not
contain enough platelets and
even a small cut can cause a
hemophiliac to bleed to death
unless they get to a hospital
e. Plasma
i. Appearance: yellow liquid
ii. Origin:
A.Water-from water in foods that
we eat or drink. Also contains
nutrients, wastes and dissolved
gases.
iii. Numbers: 55% of blood
iv. Relative Size: smallest (so small that it
can pass through a capillary wall)
v. Functions:
A. Makes “blood” a fluid so that all
the other blood components can

6. be pumped around the
circulatory system.
B. Transports nutrients/hormones/
water/wastes/gases to other
areas of the body
f. Youtube search: “The Components of
Blood and Their Importance”
-ASHWebmaster
I. Homework Assignment:
a.Complete the crossword handout
b.Due tomorrow.