blood

• Blood


  Fluid inside the body carrying nutrients, gases and even wastes
• Blood volume


  • Female - 4-5L
  • Male - 5-6L
• Blood in artery


  Brighter red than in veins because of the higher levels of oxygen found in arteries
• Components of Blood


  • Plasma
  • Formed Elements
• Plasma


  A yellow fluid that consists of 9% water, 7% proteins (albumin, globulin, fibrinogen), 2% nutrients, ions, gases and wastes products
• Albumin


  Acts as antibodies
• Globulins


  For blood clotting
• Fibrinogen


  Maintains water balance between blood and tissues
• Erythrocytes/Red Blood Cells


  • Biconcave shape; anucleated
  • Carries oxygen
  • The shape is flexible so RBCs can pass through the capillaries
• Hemoglobin


  A protein that binds oxygen and CO2, primary cell content
• Hematopoiesis


  The process of whole blood cell production
• Erythropoiesis


  The process of red blood cell production
• Leukocytes


  • Granulocytes (Neutrophil, Eosinophil, basophils)
  • Agranulocytes (Lymphocytes, Monocytes)
• Leukocytes


  • Functions for defense
  • Protects the body from damage by bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins
  • 4000 - 11000/ uL
  • May live from several hours to several days; many years or few memory cells
• Neutrophil


  Phagocytize bacteria
• Eosinophil


  • Kill parasitic worms
  • Destroy antigen-antibody complexes
  • Inactivate inflammatory chemical of allergy
• Basophil


  • Release histamine and other mediators of inflammation
  • Contain heparin, an anti-coagulant
• Lymphocytes


  Mount immune response by direct attack (T-cells) or via antibodies (B-Cells)
• Monocytes


  Phagocytosis develop into macrophages in tissues
• Margination


  Leukocytes slip out of the capillary blood vessels
• Diapedesis


  Leukocytes gather in large numbers at areas of tissue damage and infection by following the chemical trail of molecules released by the damaged cells
• Chemotaxis


  Leukocytes slow down by cell adhesion molecules secreted by endothelial cells
• Phagocytosis


  Eating of the foreign substances or dead cells
• Platelets


  • Are not cells but cytoplasmic fragments
  • Normal count: 130,000-400,000/uL
• Platelets


  • Secrete vasoconstrictors that cause vascular spasms in broken blood vessels
  • Form temporary platelet plugs to stop bleeding
  • Secreted chemicals that attracts neutrophils and monocytes to the site of infection
  • Secrete growth factors that stimulate mitosis in fibroblasts
  • Dissolve blood clots that outlasts its usefulness
• Agglutinogens/Antigen


  • Are specific glycoproteins on RBCs
  • All RBCs carry the same specific type of agglutinogens
• Agglutinins/Antibody


  • Are preformed antibodies in plasma
  • It binds to agglutinogens that are not carried by the host RBC
  • It causes agglutination (aggregation and lysis of incompatible RBC)
• Rh Positive


  Contains Rh Agglutinogens
• Rh Negative


  The RBC does not contain Rh Agglutinogens
• Rh negative mother and Rh positive fetus

  • Agglutinins against Rh positive RBCs are produced after the Rh negative sees Rh positive RBCs
  • The mother is not exposed to Rh agglutinogens until the time of child birth due to placenta tearing