what can blood transport?
nutrients, wastes, and body head managed through blood cells
why is blood unique?
only fluid tissue; has both solid and liquid components; complex connective tissue
formed elements
living blood cells suspended in plasma; account for 45% of blood sample
plasma
nonliving fluid matrix, makes up 55% of blood, 90% water, straw colored, over 100 different substances dissolve in it, helps distribute heat throughout the body
what would happen if blood was spun in a centrifuge?
heavier formed elements would be at the bottom and the plasma would rise to the top with a layer separating in between
erythrocytes
red blood cells, primarily carry oxygen in blood to all cells in body
buffy coat
thin whitish layer containing leukocytes and platelets (1%) separating plasma and the formed elements
hematocrit
percentage of blood volume of a red blood cell
blood
sticky, opaque fluid with metallic taste
what does the color of blood depend on?
amount of oxygen it is carrying
scarlett (bright) red blood
oxygen rich
dull dark maroon red blood
oxygen poor
blood vs water
heavier and 5 times thicker
what is the pH of blood?
slightly basic/ alkaline; 7.35-7.45
what temperature is blood?
100.4 F
what is the volume of blood?
accounts for roughly 8% of body weight; 5-6 L or 6 quarts
what are some substances dissolved in plasma?
nutrients, salts, respiratory gas (02 and CO2), hormones, plasma proteins, wastes
plasma proteins
most abundant solute of plasma, made by liver, wide variety of functions
albumin
plasma protein; contributes to osmotic pressure in blood
what is a function of clotting proteins?
help stem blood loss
composition of plasma
varies continuously as cells remove/ add substances to the blood; kept relatively constant by homeostatic mechanisms
how are RBCs different from other cells?
anucleate, contain few organelles; mature ones have sacs of hemoglobin
hemoglobin (Hb)
iron-bearing proteins, transports bulk of oxygen in blood, binds with small amount of CO2
RBCs shape
small biconcave disks; provide for large surface area idea for gas exchange
how many oxygen molecules is an Hb molecule capable of binding to?
4
anemia
a decrease in oxygen carrying ability off the blood
what major problem do people with sickle cell anemia face?
blood clots
polycythemia
an excessive/ abnormal increase in number of erythrocytes; can result from bone marrow cancer or high altitudes; increases blood viscosity and impairing circulation
leukocytes
white blood cells; crucial to body's defense against disease, only "complete" cells in blood
why are leukocytes the only complete cells in bloodd?
they have nuclei and organelles
how do WBCs defend the body?
they form a protective movable army that protects against bacteria, viruses, parasites, and tumor cells
how are leukocytes unique?
they can move in and out of blood vessels
diapedesis
leaping across, walking in and out; the ability of a WBC to move in and out of blood vessels
positive chemotaxis
WBCs can locate areas of tissue damage/ infection in the body by responding to certain chemicals that diffuse from the damaged cells
how many WBCs appear in the blood when they mobilize?
twice as much as the body speeds up production
leukocytosis
count above 11000 cells/mm3, too many cells; indicates infection in the body
leukopenia
lacking white blood cells
what happens in leukemia?
bone marrow becomes cancerous & huge numbers of WBCs turnout rapidly 2) new WBCs are immature & incapable of carrying out normal protective functions 3) therefore body becomes easy prey for bacteria and viruses
classification of WBCs
granulocytes & agranulocytes (depending on visible granules)
granulocytes
lobt nuclei, stained specifically with Wrights stain; neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils
neutrophils
smaller phagocyte, show up at sites of acute infection
eosinophils
numbers increase rapidly during allergies and infections by parasitic worms
basophils
rarest of WBCs; contain large histamine containing granules
what does histamine do?
chemical makes blood vessels leaky
agranulocytes
lack visible cytoplasmic granules, nuclei closer to norm (circular); lymphocytes and monocytes
lympthocytes
take up residence in lymphatic tissue, play important role in immune response
monocytes
largest of WBCs; macrophages fight prolonged chronic infections
platelets
not technically cells, fragments of multinucleate cells (megakaryocytes), pinch off into thousands of anucleate pieces sealing off from surrounding fluid
megakaryocytes
large bone marrow cells
what are platelets needed for?
clotting process when blood vessels are ruptured/ broken
where does blood cell formation occur?
red bone marrow