Unit 20, Assignment A - GRADED DISTINCTION. Includes all the explanations, data and diagrams needed to get a distinction on the first submission. My own work :)

What’s in your blood?


2 Blood diseases I have chosen:

 Sickle cell anaemia
 Thalassaemia



Erythrocytes- They are red blood cells that contain haemoglobin and transport oxygen throughout
the body, the oxygen is needed for cellular respiration to provide energy for the cells’ needs. This
reaction takes place in the mitochondria of the cells.

- Erythrocytes (red blood cells) have a biconcave shape.
- This shape allows for a large surface area to volume ratio so
that more oxygen c an be absorbed into the red blood cell
- The shape of the cell and thin membrane give the red blood
cell flexibility so it can squeeze and pass-through narrow
capillaries
- This also ensures the cell membrane is close to the wall of the
capillary to ensure the shortest diffusion pathway as possible


- Cell membrane is thin to allow a short Haemoglobin is a protein made of 4 sub- Haemoglobin:
diffusion pathway for oxygen / carbon units each with an iron ion. Each
dioxide to enter the cell haemoglobin can combine with up to 4
- It also gives the cell flexibility to allow it to
oxygen molecules. When it is combined Heme
withstand through narrow capillaries
Leukocytes-
- (white blood cells)
Erythrocytes do not contain a nucleus,
with oxygen it is called oxyhaemoglobin.
mitochondria or smooth ER, this leaves a Carbon dioxide can also bind with the
o Basophil haemoglobin molecule to become Iron
lot more room in the cell. This space is
used to pack as much haemoglobin as carboxyhaemoglobin.The heme groups
o Dentritic cell
possible, this is so each red blood cell can carry oxygen and carbon dioxide
o Monocyte
carry as much oxygen as possible through the blood.
-
o Eosinophil
o Neutrophil

, Function of a basophil: they defend your body from allergens, pathogens
and parasites.
 Bi- lobed nucleus
 Secrete histamines
 Type of granulocyte
 Coarse, dense, blue – black cytoplasmic granules


Defend your body against:
Basophils attack any organism they see that is unfamiliar to your body by
allergens, bacteria, fungi, viral
phagocytosis.
infections, blood clotting and
parasites. During an allergic reaction they release 2 enzymes:

Histamine Heparin
Allergic reaction symptoms like:  Enlarges your blood  An enzyme that prevents
vessels to improve blood from clotting too
- Itchy skin
blood flow quickly.
- Runny nose
 It also opens pathways
- Watery eyes
for other cells to
occur when basophil releases quickly target and
histamines. respond to the allergen




Function of an eosinophil: they attack and kill parasites and cancer cells; they also help with allergic reactions.
 Allergic responses
 Bi-lobed nucleus
 Destroy parasites and cancer cells
 Nucleus is segmented into 2 (or more) lobes connected by a barely visible thin filament
 They attack in numbers and release highly toxic proteins that help fight micro- organisms,
and parasitic infections.
Eosinophil can also cause tissue damage
when activated during allergic reactions.




Monocytes can perform phagocytosis, or they can differentiate into either a Dentric cell
or a Macrophage. This is because they both perform antigen presentation.
Antigen presentation = a process that enables T- lymphocytes to identify antigenic
epitopes on an antigen presenting cells surface.


Function of a monocyte: they release cytokines in order to signal and
recruit other cells to an area with pathogens.