BLOOD

• Blood


  • Is connective tissue
  • Transports vital substances
  • Maintains stability of interstitial fluid
  • Distributes heat
• Blood cells


  Form mostly in red bone marrow
• Blood is about 8% of body weight
• Components of blood


  • Plasma = 55%
  • Red cells = 45%
• Red blood cells (erythrocytes)

  • Biconcave discs
  • One-third hemoglobin
  • Able to readily squeeze through capillaries
  • Lack nuclei and mitochondria
• Types of hemoglobin


  • Oxyhemoglobin
  • Deoxyhemoglobin
• White blood cells (leukocytes)

  • Protect against disease
  • WBC hormones are interleukins and colony-stimulating factors which stimulate development
• Types of WBCs


  • Granulocytes (Neutrophils, Eosinophils, Basophils)
  • Agranulocytes (Lymphocytes, Monocytes)
• Platelets (thrombocytes)


  Help repair damaged blood vessels by sticking to broken surfaces
• Blood plasma


  • Straw colored
  • The liquid portion of blood
  • 55% of blood volume
  • 92% water
• Important blood gases


  • Oxygen
  • Carbon dioxide
  • Uric acid
  • Amino acids
• Hemostasis


  Stoppage of bleeding
• Agglutination


  Clumping of red blood cells
• Antigens


  A chemical that stimulates cells to produce antibodies
• Antibodies

  A protein that reacts against a specific antigen