13 - Blood System

What Blood Does

• Carries oxygen, nutritents, hormones and other substances

• Carries carbon dioxide and wastes away from tissues

• White blood cells help fight infection

• Platelets and clotting proteins help stop bleeding

2 Main Components of Blood

Plasma and Formed Elements

55% of Blood

Plasma

45% of Blood

Formed Elements (erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets)

Erythrocytes

RBC (red blood cells)

where are RBC’s produced

bone marrow

what do RBCs contain

hemoglobin

how long do RBCs circulate for

approx 120 days

leukocytes

help defend the body against infection and disease

5 types of leukocytes

neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils

neutrophils

most common WBC; help fight bacterial infection

lymphocyte

important in immune responses; produce antibodies and attack abnormal cells

monocytes

become macrophages in tissue

eosinophils

associated with allergic reactions and parasites

basophils

release chemicals (histamine) during inflammatory and allergic responses

granulocyte

white blood cell containing granules

a leukocyte with one large ___ enters tissues

nucleus

macrophage

engulf foreign material, debris and worn out cells

phagocytosis

process of engulfing foreign material

platelets (thrombocytes)

produced from large bone marrow cell - Megakaryocytes

• help stop bleeding

• gather at damaged blood vessels and form a platelet plug

Hemoglobin

protein found inside red blood cells

• binds/carries oxygen

• contains iron

• gives blood red color

• broken down when RBCs are destroyed

Making of red blood cells

produced in the bone marrow

What does erythropoietin (EPO), which is released by kidneys, do?

hormone that stimulates red blood cell formation

reticulocyte

an immature erythrocyte

erythrocyte

mature red blood cell

what happens to old RBCs?

eventually destroyed (hemoglobin - iron is recycled)

bilirubin

orange-yellow pigment formed from the breakdown of hemoglobin

• Processed by the liver

• Excreted in bile

hemostasis

stopping/controlling bleeding

when a blood vessel is damaged

1. vessels constricts

2. platelets form a plug

3. clotting proteins form a stable clot

Coagulation

blood clotting

key proteins in blood clotting (coagulation)

Prothrombin -> Thrombin -> Fibrinogen -> Fibrin (forms mesh of blood clot)

Plasma

liquid portion of blood

what does plasma contain

water, proteins, salts, nutrients, hormones, lipids, vitamins

important plasma proteins

• albumin

• globulins

• fibrinogen

• prothrombin

albumin

helps maintain water balance in blood

globulins

include proteins involved in immunity

fibrinogen

converted into fibrin during clotting

prothrombin

converted into thrombin during clotting

Plasma vs Serum

Plasma

• Liquid portion of blood

• Contains clotting proteins 

Serum

• Plasma after clotting has occured 

• Does not contain clotting proteins 

ABO Blood Group System

based on antigens found on red blood cells

• Type A = A antigen

• Type B = B antigen 

• Type AB = A+B antigens 

• Type O = No A or B antigens 

Rh Factor

another antigen (protein) found on red blood cells

• Rh Positive - Rh+ - Rh antigen is present

• Rh negative - Rh- = Rh antigen is absent 

• Full Blood Type = ABO group + Rh status

o negative - universal donor

Has 

• No A antigen 

• No B antigen 

• No Rh antigen

Commonly used in emergencies when the recipient blood those is unknown 

Blood compatibility

Blood typing helps prevent an: Immune reaction 

If incompatible, red blood cells are given:

• Antibodies may attack the transfused cells -> Hemolysis breakdown of red blood cells 

anemia

blood condition in which red blood cells or hemoglobin are lower than normal 

• Less hemoglobin = less oxygen reaches tissues

• Common Effects: Fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, pallor

iron deficiency anemia

not enough iron to make adequate hemoglobin

pernicious anemia

Vitamin B12 deficiency caused by poor B12 absorption

anemia of chronic disease

associated with long-term health conditions

hemophilia

Inherited disorder in which blood does not clot normally. Usually caused by defiance of:

• Factor VIII - Hemophilia A

• Factor IX - Hemophilia B

  • People with hemophilia may bleed for longer than normal 

purpura

Bleeding beneath the skin that produces red/purple discolouration 

petachiae

very small pinpoint areas of bleeding

ecchymosis

larger area of bleeding under the skin

thrombocytopenia

low platelet count

leukemia

Cancer of blood forming tissues; abnormal blood cells multiply and interfere with normal blood cell production 

types of leukemia

Leukemia names describe how quickly it develops 

• Acute = develops rapidly

• Chronic = develops more slowly

Cell Line Involved 

Lymphocytic/Lymphoid

Myeloid (myel/o = bone marrow)

granulocytosis

An increased number of granulocytes in the blood 

• Granul/o = granules

• Cyt/o = cell

• -osis/-cytosis = abnormal increase 

mononucleosis

Viral infection commonly caused by Epstein-Barr virus

• associated with increased numbers of mononuclear leukocytes 

multiple myeloma

• Cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow 

• Cancerous plasma cells may produce abnormal immunoglobulins

CBC

complete blood count

• Measures RBCs, WBCs, platelets, hemoglobin, and hematocrit

blood smear

Blood cells examined under a microscope 

coagulation tests

• Measures blood-clotting ability

• PT/INR or aPTT

iron studies

Assess iron stores and transport (Ferritin, Transferrin)

bone marrow aspiration

Removes a bone marrow sample for examination 

electrophoresis

Separates proteins according to electrical properties 

phlebotomy

drawing blood from a vein

plasmapheresis

removal/separation of plasma from blood

blood transfusion

administration of donated blood or blood components

bone marrow transplant

replacement of diseased blood forming cells

albumin

protein in the blood; maintains the proper amount of water in blood

antibody (ab)

a specific protein produced by the lymphocytes in response to bacteria, viruses, or other antigens

antigen

a substance that stimulates the production of an antibody

basophil

white blood cell that contains granules that stain blue

bilirubin

orange-yellow pigment in bile; formed by breakdown of hemoglobin when RBCs are destroyed

coagulation

blood clotting

colony-stimulating factor (CSF)

protein that stimulates growth of white blood cells

differentiation

change in structure and function of a cell as it matures; specialization 

electrophoresis

method of separating serum proteins by electrical charge and size 

eosinophil

white blood cell that contains granules that stain red

erthroblast

immature red blood cell

erythrocyte

red blood cell

eryhtropoietin (EPO)

hormone secreted by the kidneys that stimulates red blood cell formation 

fibrin

protein that is converted to fibrin in the clotting process

globulin

plasma protein

granulocyte

white blood cell with numerous dark-staining granules

hematopoietic stem cell

a cell in bone marrow that gives rise to all types of blood cells

hemoglobin

blood protein containing iron; carries oxygen in red blood cells

hemolysis

breakdown of red blood cells

heparin

 an anticoagulant found in blood and tissue cells

immune reaction

response of the immune system to foreign invasion 

immunoglobulin

a protein with antibody activity

leukocyte

white blood cell

lymphocyte

mononuclear leukocyte that produces antibodies

macrophage

monocyte that migrates from the blood to tissue spaces; as a phagocyte, it engulfs foreign material and debris; destroys worn out RBCs

megakaryocyte

large platelet precursor found in the bone marrow 

monocyte

leukocyte with one large nucleus; engulfs foreign material and debris; becomes macrophage

mononuclear

pertaining to cell (leukocyte) with single round nucleus

myeloblast

immature bone marrow that gives rise to granulocytes

neutrophil

 granulocytic leukocyte formed in bone marrow; polymorphonuclear leukocyte 

plasma

liquid portion of blood; contains water, proteins, salts, nutrients, lipids, hormones, and vitamins

plasmapheresis

removal of plasma from withdrawn blood by centrifuge

platelet

a small blood fragment important in clotting