formed elements

erythrocytes

red blood cells

shape and function of a RBC

circular shape that helps make the exchange of oxygen and flow through narrow blood vessels faster

* flexible and able to form stacks

hemoglobin

able to bind with oxygen or carbon dioxide that is transferred to the blood

hematocrit

percentage of whole blood volume contributed by red blood cells

* doctors like to measure this in a patient’s blood to look out for anemia

anemia

having lower than average hematocrit

erythropoiesis

process of forming red blood cells

where are red blood cells made

in red bone marrow

erythropoietin

needed for successful erthropoiesis

5 specific leukocytes

* neutrophil
* eosinophil
* basophil
* monocyte
* lymphocyte

leukocytes classified as granulocytes

* neutrophil
* eosinophil
* basophil

leukocytes classified as agranulocytes

* monocyte
* lymphocyte

neutrophil

phagocytic microphage that comprises 50-70% of all WBC’s

monocyte

phagocytic macrophage

phagocytic microphage

eats small things

phagocytic macrophage

eats large things

basophil

has granules with histamine and heparin that promote inflammation

eosinophil

release toxins and kill parasites

lymphocytes

play an important role in our immune response

3 stages of hemostasis

* vascular phase
* platelet phase
* coagulation phase

vascular phase

vascular spasm occurs

vascular spasm

contraction of smooth muscle reduces width of blood vessel and slows down fluid loss

platelet phase

platelet plug forms

platelet aggregation

platelets accumulate and stick to each other at the exposed injury site

platelet plug

a positive feedback loop stimulates platelet aggregation and the formation of a platelet plug

coagulation phase

blood clot forms

fibrin

sticky protein necessary to form a blood clot