Blood Components and Formed Elements

What is Plasma?

The liquid matrix of blood, about 55% of blood volume

What does plasma consist of?

Water, electrolytes, plasma proteins (albumin, fibrinogen, globulins)

What’s another name for red blood cells?

Erythrocytes

What do red blood cells do?

Transport oxygen and carbon dioxide

What’s another name for white blood cells?

Leukocytes

What do white blood cells do?

function in defense and immunity

What are the two kinds of White blood cells (Leukocytes)?

Granulocytes and Agranulocytes

What do Granulocytes contain?

neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils

What do Agranulocytes contain?

lymphocytes and monocytes

What are Platelets?

Involved in blood clotting (formed from megakaryoblasts)

What does Hematocrit refer to?

percentage of blood volume that is in erythrocytes

ABO Blood Groups

Blood types are determined by the presence of specific antigens

Type A blood…

A antigens and anti-B antibodies

Type B blood…

B antigens and anti-A antibodies

Type AB blood…

both A and B antigens, no antibodies

Type O blood…

neither A nor B antigens, both anti-A and anti-B antibodies

What’s the Rh factor?

individuals either have the Rh antigen (Rh positive), or lack it (Rh negative)

What are transfusion reactions?

happens if incompatible blood types are mixed (agglutination and hemolysis)

What is hemostasis?

A series of fast processes to stop bleeding from damaged blood vessels

What are the steps of Hemostasis?

Step 1: Vascular spasm; Step 2: platelet plug formation; Step 3: Coagulation (blood clotting)