anaphy mid

• Functions of blood


  • Transport of gasses, nutrients and waste products
  • Transport of processed molecules
  • Transport of regulatory molecules
  • Regulation of pH and osmosis
  • Maintenance of body temperature
  • Protection against foreign substances
  • Clot formation
• Composition of blood


  • Plasma
  • Formed elements
• Plasma


  55% of total blood, pale yellow liquid that surrounds cells, 91% water, 7% proteins, and 2% other
• Formed elements


  45% of total blood, cells and cell fragments, erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes
• Plasma proteins


  • Albumin
  • Globulins
  • Fibrinogen
• Albumin


  58% of plasma proteins, helps maintain water balance
• Globulins


  38% of plasma proteins, helps immune system
• Fibrinogen


  4% of plasma proteins, aids in clot formation
• Hematopoiesis


  The process that produces formed elements, occurs in fetal liver, thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, and red bone marrow, after birth primarily in red bone marrow
• All the formed elements of blood are derived from a single population of cells called stem cells, or hemocytoblasts
• Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells)


  • Disk-shaped with thick edges
  • Nucleus is lost during development
  • Live for 120 days
• Erythrocyte function


  Transport O2 to tissues
• Hemoglobin


  Main component of erythrocytes, transports O2, each globin protein is attached to a heme molecule, each heme contains one iron atom, O2 binds to iron, Oxyhemoglobin: hemoglobin with an O2 attached
• Production of erythrocytes


  1. Decreased blood O2 levels cause kidneys to increase production of the hormone erythropoietin

  2. Erythropoietin stimulates red bone marrow to produce more erythrocytes

  3. Increased erythrocytes cause an increase in blood O2 levels
• Fate of old erythrocytes and hemoglobin

  1. Old red blood cells are removed from blood by macrophages in spleen and liver

  2. Hemoglobin is broken down

  3. Globin is broken down into amino acids

  4. Hemoglobin's iron is recycled

  5. Heme is converted to bilirubin

  6. Bilirubin is taken up by liver and released into small intestine as part of bile
• Leukocytes (White Blood Cells)


  • Lack hemoglobin
  • Larger than erythrocytes
  • Contain a nucleus
• Functions of Leukocytes


  • Fight infections
  • Remove dead cells and debris by phagocytosis
• Types of Leukocytes


  • Granulocytes
  • Agranulocytes
• Granulocytes


  • Contain specific granules
  • Include neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils
• Neutrophils


  • Most common
  • Remain in blood for 10 to 12 hours then move to tissues
  • Phagocytes
• Eosinophils


  • Reduce inflammation
  • Destroy parasites
• Basophils


  • Least common
  • Release histamine and heparin
• Agranulocytes


  No specific granules
• Monocytes


  • Largest sized white blood cells
  • Produce macrophages
• Lymphocytes


  • Immune response
  • Several different types (T cells and B cells)
  • Lead to production of antibodies
• Platelets


  • Minute fragments of cells
  • Produced in the red bone marrow from large cells called megakaryocytes
  • Play an important role in preventing blood loss
• Preventing Blood Loss


  1. Vascular spasm

  2. Platelet plug formation

  3. Blood clotting
• Vascular Spasm


  Temporary constriction of blood vessel
• Platelet Plug Formation


  can seal up small breaks in blood vessels
• Blood Clotting


  blood can be transformed from a liquid to a gel)

  CLOT. network of thread-like proteins called fibrin
• Clot Retraction


  • Condensing of clot
  • Serum in plasma is squeezed out of clot
  • Helps enhance healing
• Fibrinolysis


  • Process of dissolving clot
  • Plasminogen (plasma protein) breaks down clot (fibrin)
• Blood Grouping


  • Transfusion reactions/Agglutination
  • Antigens
  • Antibodies
  • Blood groups
• ABO Blood Groups


  • Type A blood has type A antigens
  • Type B blood has type B antigens
  • Type AB blood has both types of antigens
  • Type O blood has neither A nor B antigens
• Antibodies in ABO Blood Groups


  • Plasma from type A blood contains anti-B antibodies
  • Plasma from type B blood contains anti-A antibodies
  • Type AB blood plasma has neither type of antibody
  • Type O blood plasma has both anti-A and anti-B antibodies
• In Caucasians in the United States, the distribution is type O, 47%; type A, 41%; type B, 9%; and type AB, 3%. Among African-Americans, the distribution is type O, 46%; type A, 27%; type B, 20%; and type AB, 7%.
• Blood Donor and Recipient According to ABO Blood Types


  • Type O are universal donors
  • Type A can receive A and O blood
  • Type B can receive B and O blood
  • Type AB are universal recipients, can receive A, B, AB or O blood
  • Type O can only receive O blood
• Rh Blood Group


  • Rh positive means you have Rh antigens
  • 95 to 85% of the population is Rh+
  • Antibodies only develop if an Rh- person is exposed to Rh+ blood by transfusion or from mother to fetus
• Rh Incompatibility in Pregnancy

  • If the mother is Rh- and the fetus is Rh+ the mother can be exposed to Rh+ blood if fetal blood leaks through the placenta and mixes with the mother's blood
  • First time this occurs mother's blood produces antibodies against antigens
  • Any repeated mixing of blood causes a reaction
• Hemolytic Disease of Newborn


  • Occurs when mother produces anti-Rh antibodies that cross placenta and agglutination and hemolysis of fetal erythrocytes occurs
  • Can be fatal to fetus
  • Prevented if mother is treated with RhoGAM which contains antibodies against Rh antigens