blood system

• 1. Erythropoiesis  - The process of creating new red blood cells in the bones
• EPO (Erythropoietin) - A hormone that stimulates production of red blood cells
• Hemostasis - The process that prevents or stops bleeding
• Platelet - Plays a vital role in blood clotting
• Fibrin - A long fiber created from fibrinogen and thrombin; weaves around the platelet to form a blood clot
• Coagulation - The process of forming the fibrin and creating the blood clot
• Hemoglobin - molecule of the red blood cell serves as the binding site of oxygen and carbon dioxide
• Hemolysis - The rupture of  red blood cells as a result of age or disease
• Plasma - The liquid component of blood
• Diapedesis - The process of any part of blood passing through the wall of a blood vessel into body tissues
• Red Blood Cells-

  • AKA Erythrocytes
  • Carry oxygen and CO2 to and from tissues
  • The most abundant cells in the blood
• White Blood Cells-

  • AKA Leukocytes
  • Infection fighters in the body
  • 5 different types of WBC
• Platelets-

  • Small irregularly shaped cell fragments
  • No Nucleus
  • Help with Hemostasis
• Plasma-

  • Liquid part of blood
• (WBC) Neutrophil - Performs phagocytosis; Kills bacteria and fungi
• (WBC) Eosinophil - Destroy parasitic worms; controls allergic responses
• (WBC) Basophil - releases histamine, intensifying the inflammatory response; active in allergic reactions
• (WBC) Lymphocyte - B cells produce antibodies; T cells and natural killer cells fight cancerous tumors and viruses
• (WBC) Monocyte - Performs phagocytosis; Lives longer than neutrophils; morphs into macrophages that remove dead cell debris and attacks microorganisms.
• Antigens: Think of them as flags on invaders like germs. Your body doesn't recognize these flags, so it sends out antibodies
• Antibodies: Imagine these as soldiers with sticky hands. They see the flags (antigens) and grab hold, trapping the invaders.
• Universal recipient: This blood type is like a friendly king who welcomes everybody (almost)! They don't have any flags on their red blood cells (O), so nobody attacks them.
• Universal donor: This blood type is like a generous friend who can share with most people (except those with a specific flag). They only have one kind of flag on their red blood cells (Rh+), so some people might see it as foreign.
• Agglutination: It's like a snowball fight gone wrong! When the wrong blood types mix, the soldier antibodies grab the wrong flags (antigens), causing red blood cells to clump together in messy blobs.
• Rh factor: It's like a tiny extra badge on some red blood cells (Rh+). Some people don't have this badge (Rh-). Mismatched badges between mom and baby can sometimes cause problems.
• RhoGAM: This is like a magic shield for Rh- moms carrying Rh+ babies. It catches any rogue baby flags (Rh+) that might sneak into the mom's blood, preventing trouble.