Blood and Blood cells Blood and Blood cells

Blood and Blood cells

Blood and Blood cells § Average adult has 5 -6 liters of blood which circulates every 20 seconds § Composition § 78% water § 22% Various solids

Function of Blood 1. transporting nutrients, oxygen & hormones 2. removing metabolic wastes and CO 2 3. providing immunity (resistance to disease) through antibodies 4. maintaining body temperature and electrolyte balance 5. clotting to prevent bleeding from a wound

Blood § Blood divides into solid and liquid portions when spun in a centrifuge § Solid parts are called formed elements § Erythrocytes - Red blood cells (RBC’s) § Leukocytes - White blood cells (WBC’s) § Thrombocytes – platelets § The remaining liquid is composed of the buffy coat (mixture of WBC’s and platelets) and plasma

Blood and Blood cells § Plasma § Pale yellow fluid portion of blood § Make up 90% H 2 O, 10% protein § Contains special proteins that help blood to clot § Contains carbohydrates, proteins gases, hormones, enzymes, minerals, and waste products

Types of blood cells

Erythrocytes § Largest part of blood solids § Live 90 -120 days § Produced by bone marrow of femur, hip, sternum, humerus, vertebra, cranium

Erythrocytes § Main function § Transport oxygen and removes carbon dioxide § Hemopoiesis – process in which new RBC’s are formed

hemoglobin § Complex protein within each cell to which oxygen attaches

Thrombocytes § Platelets § Causes blood to clot

Leukocytes § Produced in bone marrow and lymph nodes § Main function § Fight infection

leukocytes § Two types § Granulocytes § Act as scavengers and destroy pathogens

Granulocytes § Neutrophils - engulf & digest bacteria called phagocytosis § Basophils - contain the anticoagulant substance heparin and participate in the inflammatory response § Eosinophils – defend the body from allergic reactions and parasitic infections

Agranulocytes § Lymphocytes – Basis of the immune system § participates in the production of antibody and plasma cells and help destroy foreign particles § Monocytes – leaves the blood and becomes a macrophage, which help remove foreign materials and bacteria in the process of phagocytosis