Study Notes: Course Overview and Blood Functions

Course Grading Structure

  • Lecture Exams (30% each)

    • Count as significant portion of course grade (60% total)
    • Importance of studying thoroughly emphasized

  • Homework Activities (10%)

    • Assigned through McGraw Hill Connect
    • May be reflected in Canvas Gradebook
    • Emphasized that homework's weight is less than exams
    • Students encouraged to achieve high scores because assessments can be retaken

Attendance Policy

  • Minimum Attendance Requirement

    • Students must attend at least three-fourths of class sessions to pass the course
    • Attendance check conducted with a daily sign-in sheet organized by alphabetical last name
    • Encouragement to print names clearly

  • Access to McGraw Hill Connect

    • Students expected to have access; link can be provided for purchasing if needed

Instructor Introduction

  • Instructor's Name:
    • Avan Brownlee
    • Clarification of name pronunciation to avoid common mistakes (often mistaken for "Alvin")

Course Dynamics

  • Class Participation Encouraged
    • Students urged to answer questions loudly and clearly to promote involvement
    • Instructor sets pace according to student feedback (slow down or speed up)

Study Recommendations

  • Effective Study Techniques

    • Importance of active listening during lectures and note-taking
    • Suggestion to rewrite lecture notes daily prior to exams
    • Tactile learning emphasized: engagement through writing leads to better retention
    • If short on time, the use of underlining during reading recommended

  • Cell Phone Usage Policy

    • Strong recommendation against using cell phones while attending lectures
    • Explanation of how distraction can hinder comprehension
    • Strict prohibition of cell phone presence during tests

  • Exam Format

    • Tests will be paper-based and include:
      • Multiple choice questions
      • Fill-in-the-blank questions
      • Possible short discussions

Focus on Blood Function and Composition

  • Functions of Blood

    • Transportation: Moves various substances including:

      • Minerals: e.g., sodium ions, potassium ions, chloride, bicarbonate
      • Gases: e.g., oxygen and carbon dioxide
      • Nutrients
      • Metabolic Waste Products: Removed via kidneys, lungs or skin
      • Hormones: Regulatory molecules traveling to distant sites
      • Antibodies: Part of immune defense

    • Regulatory Functions:

      • Temperature control
      • Water in blood helps absorb heat due to high specific heat (
      • Specific Heat: Amount of calories needed to raise temperature of a substance by 1°C.
        • Defined as 1 calorie/gram/°C for water.
        • Allows blood to maintain a stable temperature within the body.
        • Effective in dissipating heat through sweating, requires 540 calories for evaporation of water.
      • pH Regulation: Maintains body's acid-base balance
        • Buffers and carbon dioxide transport play key roles

    • Protection from Disease:

      • Involves white blood cells and antibodies

    • Hemostasis (Blood Clotting): Prevention of blood loss through internal mechanisms

  • Composition of Blood

    • Consists of two major components:
      • Plasma: Liquid part
        • Straw-colored
        • Serum is plasma without clotting factors
      • Formed Elements: Consisting of blood cells and platelets
    • Centrifuge Analysis: Blood components separate when spun, yielding three layers:
      • Top: Plasma (yellow)
      • Middle: Buffy coat (white blood cells and platelets)
      • Bottom: Red blood cells (red)
    • Variability in Blood Composition:
      • Individual differences in plasma and formed elements percentages due to hydration levels, genetic factors, and health status

  • Plasma Components

    • Electrolytes and Nutrients: Dissolved substances that aid in various bodily functions
    • Plasma Proteins: Key components include:
      • Albumin: Most abundant; functions as carrier protein and contributes to colloidal osmotic pressure
    • Colloidal Osmotic Pressure: Pressure exerted by proteins in the blood that helps retain fluid by attracting water, occurs inside blood vessels versus outside, critical in maintaining blood volume and pressure.

Conclusion and Additional Notes

  • The concepts discussed regarding blood provide a foundation for understanding its vital roles within the body, including transportation, regulation, and protection.