Blood functions and components

Defense

leukocytes fight infection

Transportation

blood transports cells, nutrients, oxygen, and waste

Homeostasis

maintains body temperature, pH, and osmolarity

Plasma

liquid component of blood that contains blood and various dissolved components

Electrolytes

ionic compounds in plasma. Sodium, chloride, bicarbonate, K+, Ca, Magnesium, phosphate. Maintain body’s fluid balance and pH levels

Albumin

Most abundant plasma protein that contributes to the osmolarity of blood.

Transports lipids and minerals.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells that are responsible for transporting o2 throughout the body.

Contain hemoglobin

Platelets

Cell fragments crucial to hemostasis (blood clotting)

Leukocytes

WBC that protect body against infection and remove cellular debris

Neutrophils

most common type of granulocyte found in blood.

Function: uses phagocytosis to engulf and destroy pathogens

Eosinophils

Releases cytotoxic chemicals to defend against parasites

Basophils

Releases histamine

Monocytes

Can transform into macrophages and specialized for phagocytosis to remove pathogens and cellular debris

Lymphocytes

natural killer cells, b cells, t cells

Hematopoeisis

Producing the formed elements of blood. (RBC, WBC, Platelets) from hematopoeitic stem cells

Cytokines

Glycoprotein: stimulates proliferation and differentiation of leukocytes

Crucial to immune response

Thrombopoetin

Glycoprotein: stims development of megakaryocytes into platelets

blood clotting

Erythropoietin

Glycoprotein: stims the production of rbc

ensures adequate supply of o2 throughout body

Anemia

A condition characterized by decrease of o2 carrying ability of blood. Low RBC or abnormal hemoglobin

Polycthemia

increased (poly) RBC count or hematocrit —> thick blood

Leukocytosis

increase in WBC —→ infection/inflammation response

Vascular spasm

Blood vessel constricts to reduce blood flow to injured/damaged area

Platelet plug

formation of a plug composed of platelets at site of damaged vessel to stop bleeding

coagulation

blood clot formation by fibrinogen converting to fibrin. Forms mesh-like structure to seal damaged blood vessel

Thrombus

blood clot that forms within an intact blood vessel and leads to blockage or restricted blood flow

Embolism

portion of thrombus breaks free and travels through bloodstream causing blockage and restricting blood flow to an ORGAN

Hemophilia

Genetic disorder: deficiency in clotting factors leading to impaired blood clotting (constant nose bleeds)

ABO blood group

a classification system based on presence of A and B antigens on surface of RBC. Determines transfusion compatibility.

Rh blood group

determines negative and positive blood compatibility.