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Year 10
OCR
Foundation

Human blood cells and blood vessels

I can describe how the structures of blood and blood vessels are adapted to their functions.

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New
New
Year 10
OCR
Foundation

Human blood cells and blood vessels

I can describe how the structures of blood and blood vessels are adapted to their functions.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Link copied to clipboard

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Blood contains blood cells suspended in a fluid called plasma.
  2. Red blood cells transport oxygen, and have a structure adapted to carry as much oxygen as possible.
  3. Plasma transports water, glucose and other nutrients, and waste products including carbon dioxide and urea.
  4. Arteries carry blood away from the heart; capillaries carry blood to/from cells; veins carry blood back to the heart.
  5. Arteries, capillaries and veins have structures adapted to their functions, including different vessel walls and valves.

Keywords

  • Red blood cell - A blood cell that uses haemoglobin to bind and transport oxygen.

  • Plasma - The fluid of the blood which carries blood cells and other substances.

  • Artery - Large blood vessels with thicker walls which transport blood away from the heart.

  • Vein - Large blood vessel which transports blood towards the heart.

  • Capillary - Narrow blood vessel which allows exchange of substances between tissue and blood.

Common misconception

The names of the blood vessels and their functions and adaptations are often confused. Students often forget or misunderstand red blood cell adaptations too.

Both these areas are covered in detail, with clear step-by-step information given and tasks to check learning and reinforce understanding.


To help you plan your year 10 biology lesson on: Human blood cells and blood vessels, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use donuts or playdoh to show the 3D shape of red blood cells, students could even have a go at modelling it. Arteries, veins and capillaries could be compared to road systems (motorways, A and B roads, and tracks) or water pipes from a house to a large sewer to provide a familiar link.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is a waste product in humans?
Amino acids
Carbohydrates
Correct answer: Carbon dioxide
Mineral ions
Oxygen
Q2.
Why is the heart described as an organ?
It is made from cardiac muscle cells.
It is part of an organ system.
It acts as a pump pushing blood round the body.
Correct answer: It is made from several different tissues.
Q3.
Nitrogenous waste produced by cells is transported by the blood to which organ?
Correct Answer: Kidney, kidney, kidneys, Kidneys
Q4.
In the diagram of the human heart, which letter (A, B, C or D) is the left ventricle?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: C, c
Q5.
Starting with the lungs, put these structures in the correct order to describe blood flow through the left side of the heart.
1 - Lungs
2 - Pulmonary vein
3 - Left atrium
4 - Atrio-ventricular valve
5 - Left ventricle
6 - Aorta
Q6.
True or false? The pulmonary artery carries oxygenated blood.
Correct Answer: False, false

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match each word to its correct description.
Correct Answer:Artery,blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart

blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart

Correct Answer:Capillary,where exchange of substances between blood and body cells takes place

where exchange of substances between blood and body cells takes place

Correct Answer:Vein,blood vessel that carries blood towards the heart

blood vessel that carries blood towards the heart

Q2.
Which substance in the list is not mainly transported in the blood plasma?
Amino acids
Carbon dioxide
Glucose
Correct answer: Oxygen
Urea
Q3.
Which of the adaptations of a red blood cell increases the rate of diffusion of oxygen?
Absence of a nucleus
Correct answer: Biconcave shape
Presence of protein haemoglobin
Presence of Fe$$^2+$$ ions
Q4.
Blood vessels are adapted to their function. Which blood vessels are adapted by having thick elastic and muscular walls and narrow lumens?
Correct Answer: Arteries, Artery, arteries, artery
Q5.
True or false? The exchange of substances between the blood and body cells only takes place from capillaries.
Correct answer: True
False
Q6.
Some blood vessels contain valves. What is the function of these valves?
To speed up blood flow.
To slow blood flow.
To push blood forward.
Correct answer: To prevent back flow of blood.