Blood Cells

Biology 11

what is blood made up of and what are the percentages

45% red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets

55% plasma

what is plasma composed of

90% water and 10% dissolved minerals such as glucose, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals

plasmas appearance and why

it is yellow in color due to a protein molcule. there are three groups of protein molecules: one regulates the amount of water in cells, one helps to fight disease, and one helps to form blood clots

plasmas purpose

Plasma carries important material to your cells and carries waste away

red blood cells purpose

takes oxygen from the lungs and delivers it to the rest of the body

red blood cells shape and why

disk shaped with a small divot (dimple) to be flexible to fit through small capillaries

hemoglobin

what red blood cells are made out of, an iron rich protien that bonds to oxygen molecules giving blood its red color. the more oxygen in the blood, the brighter the red

how long do red blood cells live

120 days

what produces your red blood cells and how often

two million every two seconds from bone marrow

white blood cells purposes

to fight disease in the body

some white blood cells alert the body it has been invaded

some produce chemicals to kill the infection

some will surround and consume the bacteria or virus

how many white blood cells per red blood cells

one white blood cell for every 500-1000 red blood cells

white bloodcell lifespan

usually live up to 20 days on average

some can live up to 5 years “memory” immunity

platelets purpose

cell fragments that help form blood clots

how is a scab formed

when a blood vessel is cut, platelets rush to the cut and stick to the side. they release chemicals to cause a chain reaction that produces a protein known as fibrin, which traps other cells so the blood vessel can be repaired with its fiber-like chains

who discovered blood types and how

physician Karl Landsteiner discovered them. He mixed blood from many different people and found that some would mix smoothly and others would clump together, which is why many early blood transfusions failed.

four major types of blood

A, B, AB, and O

how is blood type determined

by marker molucules that communicate with the plasma in the blood. if a blood has the correct marker molecule then the blood would mix together evenly. if not, the plasma and white blood cells would see it as a threat and clump together

universal donar and universal recipient

O- and AB+

3 factors that determine wether or not you can donate to another type

• red blood cell type

• antibodies in plasma

• antigens in red blood cells

Rh factor

85% have it, 15% do not

if you are Rh positive you have the protein marker

if you are Rh negative you do not, and receiving Rh positive blood could cause you to develop a clumping condition

lymphatic system

a network of vein-like vessels that get the fluid back to the bloodstream

blood and the lymphatic system

as blood is carried through your capillaries, some of the fluid leaks out into the surrounding tissue

after the cells are given the appropriate nutrients and oxygen they move into the body’s drainage system known as the lymphatic system

lymph

the fluid inside the lymphatic system

contains materials such as glucose and some white blood cells

the fluid moves very slowly since there is no pump

the lymph empties into the large veins into the chest and the fluid will become a part of the bloods plasma again

lymph nodes

when lymph is moving through it passes through small knobs of tissue called lymph nodes

lymph nodes filter the fluid and trap bacteria and other microorganisms

when you are sick, the swelling in your lymph nodes is caused by the lymph nodes fighting off bacteria or viruses

3 places lympth nodes are found

neck, armpit, groin