Composition of Blood

manipulate the composition of blood

-with complete control

-without adverse consequences

functions of the blood

-deliver products

-remove waste

-facilitate signaling

-respond to emergencies

-maintain structural integrity

blood components

-cells

-liquid (serum/plasma)

-serum v. plasma: serum- blood clots in the tube, all coagulation units used up in the clots; plasma- blood does not clot (has coagulation); both liquid component of blood

blood cells

-RBCs

-WBCs- PMNs, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils

-platelets

-endothelial cells, HSC, cancer cells (leukemia/solid tumors)

-parasites, bacteria, viruses

RBC

-biconcave disk

-8 microns in diameter

-terminally differentiated

-contains: hemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, K+

-does not contain: nucleus, Golgi, mitochondria; lose all organelles as they differentiate

-deliver oxygen

-remove CO2

WBC- PMNs

-polymorphonuclear leukocytes/polys/PMNs/neutrophils/segs

-granules- not too blue, not too red; “neutral”

-terminally differentiated

-segmented nucleus

-recruited to sites of inflammation

-phagocytosis, bacterial killing, granule release

WBC- monocytes

-”monos”

-inflammatory monos, patrolling monos, etc.

-circulating form (precursor) of tissue macrophages

-recruited to sites of inflammation

WBC- macrophages

-tissue resident macrophages: fetal development

-”replacement” macrophages: from monos and local proliferation

-lung/peritoneal cavity/spleen/liver/bone marrow: alveolar macrophages/peritoneal/splenic/Kupffer cells/erythroblastic island macrophages

-phagocytosis, bacterial killing, antigen presentation

macrophages exist in multiple states of

-activation and/or differentiation

WBC- lymphocytes

-”lymphs”

-acquired immunity

-B cells: antigen presentation, antibody production

-T cells: cytotoxic cells, helper cells, “suppressor” cells

-nucleus round

-chromatin very dark

-nucleus not segmented

-little cytoplasm to see

WBC- eosinophils

-”eos”

-terminally differentiated

-contains eosinophilic granules (granulocyte)

-granules contain major basic protein

-recruited to sites of inflammation

-involved in allergy, parasitic infections

WBC- basophils

-circulating form (precursor?) of tissue mast cells

-terminally differentiated

-contains basophilic granules (granulocytes)

-granules contain histamine, heparin, etc.

-IgE receptors

-involved in allergy

platelets

-derived from megakaryocytes

-terminally differentiated

-contains granules

-does not contain nucleus

-involved in clotting

hematopoiesis

liquid (serum/plasma)

-water

-dissolved compounds: small molecules (ions/steroids/lipids/sugars), proteins (carriers/information/structural/defense), exogenous (vitamins/drugs/toxins), “leaked” from cells (PSA, amylase, elastase, troponins)