Blood
Blood
Blood
FUNCTIONS OF
BLOOD
Functions of Blood
1. Transport of gases, nutrients and waste products
2. Regulation of pH and osmosis
3. Maintenance of body temperature
4. Protection against foreign substances
5. Clot formation
Composition of Blood
Hematopoiesis
• Hematopoiesis is the process that produces formed elements.
• In the fetus, hematopoiesis occurs in several tissues, including the
liver, thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, and red bone marrow.
• After birth, hematopoiesis is confined primarily to red bone
marrow, but some white blood cells are produced in lymphatic
tissues.
• All the formed elements of blood are derived from a single
population of cells called stem cells, or hemocytoblasts.
• These stem cells differentiate to give rise to different cell lines,
each of which ends with the formation of a particular type of
formed element
Hematopoiesis
Erythrocytes
• Red blood cells (RBC)
• Function: transport O2 to
tissues
• Disk-shaped with thick
edges
• Nucleus is lost during
development
• Live for 120 days
Hemoglobin
Main component of erythrocytes
Transports O2
O2 binds to iron
Oxyhemoglobin:
• Bilirubin is taken up by liver and released into small intestine as part of bile
Leukocytes
White blood cells (WBC)
Lack hemoglobin
Larger than erythrocytes
Contain a nucleus
Functions:
• fight infections
• remove dead cells and debris by phagocytosis
Types of Leukocytes
Granulocytes: contain specific granules and include neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils
1. Neutrophils:
• most common
• Phagocytes
2. Eosinophils:
• reduce inflammation
• destroy parasites
3. Basophils:
• least common
1. Monocytes:
• produce macrophages
2. Lymphocytes:
• immune response
This condition
• 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
Diagnostic Blood Tests
Complete blood count:
• provides information such as RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and WBC count
Hematocrit:
• % of total blood volume composed of RBC
Hemoglobin:
• determines amount of hemoglobin
• indicates anemia
Diagnostic Blood Tests
Prothrombin time:
• time it takes for blood to begin clotting (9 to 12 sec.)
White blood cell count:
• total number of white blood cells
White Blood Cell Disorders
Leukopenia:
• low white blood cell count
• caused by radiation, chemotherapy drugs, tumors, viral infections
Leukocytosis:
• high white blood cell count
• caused by infections and leukemia
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