Flashcards - Topic 8 The Circulatory System - Edexcel Biology GCSE

Edexcel Biology GCSE
Topics 8.6 to 8.8, 8.12 - The circulatory

system
Flashcards
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What is the circulatory system?
What is the circulatory system?
● Network of organs and vessels
● Enables the flow of blood and transport of

oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients and other
molecules around the body
What are the main components of
blood?
What are the main components of blood?
● Red blood cells

● White blood cells
● Platelets
● Plasma
What are red blood cells also known as?
What are red blood cells also known as?
Erythrocytes
What is the function of red blood cells?
What is the function of red blood cells?
● Transport O2 from lungs to tissues

● Transport CO2 from tissues to lungs
How do red blood cells transport oxygen
to body cells?
How do red blood cells transport oxygen to body
cells?
● Lungs, haemoglobin in RBCs binds reversibly with

oxygen to form oxyhaemoglobin
● Tissues, oxyhaemoglobin breaks down to form

haemoglobin and oxygen which diffuses into cells
How are red blood cells adapted to their
function?
How are red blood cells adapted to their function?
● Biconcave disk gives large SA/V ratio, increasing diffusion rate
● Lack nucleus, allowing more space for haemoglobin molecules

(increases oxygen carrying capacity of the cell)
● Small and flexible so they can squeeze through capillaries
● Thin giving a short diffusion distance
What is the function of white blood cells?
What is the function of white blood cells?
Provide immunological protection
Name two types of white blood cell
Name two types of white blood cell
● Phagocytes
● Lymphocytes
What are phagocytes?
What are phagocytes?
● Type of WBC
● Engulf pathogens and digest them in a

process known as phagocytosis
What are lymphocytes?
What are lymphocytes?
● Type of WBC
● Produce antibodies specific to a pathogen
● Produce antitoxins to neutralise toxins
What is the function of platelets?
What is the function of platelets?
Role in blood clotting
What is plasma?
What is plasma?
● Pale-yellow liquid portion of the blood
● Contains proteins, nutrients, waste

products, hormones, antibodies etc.
How is plasma adapted to its function?
How is plasma adapted to its function?
Plasma consists mainly of water. This

acts as a solvent, enabling the transport
of materials around the body.
What are the three main types of blood
vessel?
What are the three main types of blood vessel?
● Arteries
● Capillaries
● Veins
What is the function of the arteries?
What is the function of the arteries?
Carry blood away from the heart under

high pressure
Describe how the arteries are adapted to
their function (6)
Describe how the arteries are adapted to their
function (6)
● Narrow lumen maintains high pressure
● Thick wall to withstand high pressure
● Thick layer of smooth muscle provides strength
● Thick layer of elastic fibres allow stretch and recoil
● Smooth inner lining to reduce friction
● No valves
What is the function of the veins?
What is the function of the veins?
Return blood to the heart under low

pressure
Describe how the veins are adapted to
their function (4)
Describe how the veins are adapted to their function
(4)
● Large lumen eases blood flow

● Thin wall as blood at low pressure
● Thin layer of smooth muscle and elastic fibres
● Valves prevent backflow of blood
What is the function of the capillaries?
What is the function of the capillaries?
Allow the exchange of materials at

tissues
Describe how the capillaries are adapted
to their function (4)
Describe how the capillaries are adapted to their
function (4)
● Form large network ∴ greater surface area for

diffusion
● Walls one cell thick giving a short diffusion distance
● Walls permeable allowing the exchange of substances
● Narrow lumen decreases diffusion distance
Describe the double circulatory system in
humans
Describe the double circulatory system in humans
Blood flows through the heart twice in two circuits:

● Pulmonary circuit
● Systemic circuit
What is the pulmonary circuit?
What is the pulmonary circuit?
● Part of the circulatory system involving the right side of the

heart
● Deoxygenated blood is transported to the lungs
● Gaseous exchange occurs between the alveoli and capillaries

in the lungs
● Oxygenated blood is returned to the left side of the heart

What is the systemic circuit?
What is the systemic circuit?
● Part of the circulatory system involving the left side of the heart
● Oxygenated blood is pumped to tissues and organs around the body
● Exchange of materials occurs at tissues
● Deoxygenated blood returns to the right side of the heart
Name the four chambers of the heart
Name the four chambers of the heart
● Left atrium
● Left ventricle
● Right atrium
● Right ventricle
Describe the pathway of blood around
the body, naming the structures of the
heart
Describe the pathway of blood around the body,
naming the structures of the heart
Pulmonary vein → Left atrium → Left ventricle →

Aorta → Body → Vena cava → Right atrium →
Right ventricle → Pulmonary artery → Lungs
Why is the left ventricle thicker than the
right ventricle?
Why is the left ventricle thicker than the right
ventricle?
● It pumps blood a further distance
● It must generate a greater force of contraction so
blood can be pumped at a higher pressure
What is the function of valves in the
heart?
What is the function of valves in the heart?
Prevent the backflow of blood
What is cardiac output?
What is cardiac output?
The volume of blood pumped out of a

ventricle in one minute
What is stroke volume?
What is stroke volume?
The volume of blood pumped out of a

ventricle in one contraction
What is heart rate?
What is heart rate?
The number of times the heart contracts

in one minute
How is cardiac output calculated?
How is cardiac output calculated?
cardiac output = heart rate × stroke volume

(cm3 min-1) (bpm) (cm3)

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Edexcel Biology GCSE

Topics 8.6 to 8.8, 8.12 - The circulatory

PMT Education is licensed under https://bit.ly/pmt-cc

● Network of organs and vessels

● Enables the flow of blood and transport of

● Red blood cells

● Transport O2 from lungs to tissues

● Lungs, haemoglobin in RBCs binds reversibly with

● Tissues, oxyhaemoglobin breaks down to form

● Biconcave disk gives large SA/V ratio, increasing diffusion rate

● Lack nucleus, allowing more space for haemoglobin molecules

● Small and flexible so they can squeeze through capillaries

● Thin giving a short diffusion distance

Provide immunological protection

● Engulf pathogens and digest them in a

● Produce antibodies specific to a pathogen

● Produce antitoxins to neutralise toxins

Role in blood clotting

● Pale-yellow liquid portion of the blood

● Contains proteins, nutrients, waste

Plasma consists mainly of water. This

Carry blood away from the heart under

Return blood to the heart under low

● Large lumen eases blood flow

Allow the exchange of materials at

● Form large network ∴ greater surface area for

Blood flows through the heart twice in two circuits:

● Part of the circulatory system involving the right side of the

● Deoxygenated blood is transported to the lungs

● Gaseous exchange occurs between the alveoli and capillaries

● Oxygenated blood is returned to the left side of the heart

● Oxygenated blood is pumped to tissues and organs around the body

● Exchange of materials occurs at tissues

● Deoxygenated blood returns to the right side of the heart

Pulmonary vein → Left atrium → Left ventricle →

Prevent the backflow of blood

The volume of blood pumped out of a

The volume of blood pumped out of a

The number of times the heart contracts

cardiac output = heart rate × stroke volume

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