Blood Characteristics

Blood

Fluid connective tissue that transports gas, waste, nutrients, and hormones throughout the body

Plasma

Clear, straw colored liquid that makes up 55% of blood - made of water, sugar, fat, protein, and salts (buffer pH change, osmotic balance, blood viscosity/clotting)

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells that lack nuclei

Hemoglobin

Protein that contains iron that combines with oxygen

Leukocytes

White blood cells that have nuclei and are less numerous that RBCs

WBC Action

Defend against foreign invaders via attacking foreign body directly, produce antibodies to identify it, or trigger other cells to destroy it

Granulocytes

Most abundant type of WBCs including basophils, eosinophils, and neutrophils

Agranulocytes

Lymphocytes and monocytes

Thrombocytes

Platelets that are small pieces of the cytoplasm found in bone marrow that provide blood clotting

Complete Blood Count

Measures number of RBCs, WBCs, platelets, and total amount of hemoglobin

Hematocrit

Volume of red blood cells in whole body

Erythrocytosis

High RBC levels from smoking, high altitudes, or diseases

Anemia

Low RBCs due to blood loss, lack of iron, infections, or sickle cell disease

Leukocytosis

High WBC count indicating presence of infection, allergies, bone marrow disease, cancer, or immune disorder

Leukopenia

Low WBC count from poisoning, infectious diseases, or immunosuppressant drugs