Blood — red cells, white cells, plasma, platelets
Edexcel GCSE Biology revision on Blood — red cells, white cells, plasma, platelets. Aligned to the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Biology 1BI0 specification. This bank has 25 practice questions on this topic.
Sample questions (3 of 25)
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Question 1
Which structural adaptation allows a red blood cell to transport oxygen more efficiently?
- A) It contains a large nucleus
- B) It has a biconcave disc shape
- C) It possesses many mitochondria
- D) It has a rigid cell wall
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Answer: It has a biconcave disc shape
Red blood cells are biconcave discs, which provides a larger surface area relative to their volume compared to a spherical cell. This adaptation maximises the rate at which oxygen can diffuse into and out of the cell. They also lack a nucleus, which creates more internal space for haemoglobin.
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Question 2
What is the primary function of platelets in the human circulatory system?
- A) They destroy harmful pathogens
- B) They assist in blood clotting
- C) They transport carbon dioxide
- D) They regulate body temperature
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Answer: They assist in blood clotting
Platelets are small fragments of cells that do not contain a nucleus. When a blood vessel is damaged, platelets aggregate at the site and trigger a chemical cascade that turns fibrinogen into fibrin, forming a mesh that traps blood cells to create a clot.
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Question 3
Which component of the blood is responsible for transporting dissolved nutrients and waste products like urea?
- A) The red blood cell liquid
- B) The clear plasma solution
- C) The white blood cell mass
- D) The platelet cell fraction
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Answer: The clear plasma solution
Plasma is a straw-coloured liquid that makes up the majority of blood volume. It acts as a transport medium for dissolved glucose, amino acids, mineral ions, and waste products like urea, as well as distributing heat throughout the body.
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