cardio blood

• The focus of this chapter is blood; the next two chapters will examine the heart and blood vessels, respectively
• Blood


  • Transports various substances
  • Helps regulate several life processes
  • Affords protection against disease
• Blood is as unique from one person to another as are skin, bone, and hair
• Blood


  • Contributes to homeostasis by transporting oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and hormones to and from body cells
  • Helps regulate body pH and temperature
  • Provides protection against disease through phagocytosis and production of antibodies
• Viscous


  Thick
• Oxygen content


  Determines blood color (bright red when saturated, dark red when unsaturated)
• Blood constitutes about 20% of extracellular fluid, amounting to 8% of the total body mass
• Blood volume

  1. 6 liters in average-sized adult male, 4-5 liters in average-sized adult female
• Hormones


  • Regulate blood volume and osmotic pressure through negative feedback
• Withdrawing blood


  1. Venipuncture (withdrawal from vein)

  2. Finger/heel stick

  3. Arterial stick