Blood Unit Objectives

Describe general characteristics of blood and discuss its major functions

a) Blood consists of plasma, platelets, red and white blood cells. Its functions include transporting nutrients and oxygen to various parts of the body, stopping blood loss outside the body to help fight infections

Distinguish among the formed elements of blood

a) RBC ( Erythrocytes) - transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide

b) WBC (Leukocytes) - protecting the body from foreign invaders, there are several types with specific functions. These functions include releasing enzymes to kill pathogens, presenting antigens, combating infections ( parasitic and bacterial)

c) Plasma

Explain the control of red blood cell production

a)

Describe and relate the structure of a red blood cell to its function

a)

Distinguish among the 5 types of white blood cells and give the function to each type

a)

State the % of each WBC in a normal WBC differential

a)

Visually distinguish between the various blood cells and structures

a)

List the major components of blood plasma and describe the functions of each

a)

Define hemostasis and explain the mechanisms that help achieve it

a)

Summarize the major steps in blood coagulation

a)

Explain blood typing ( ABO & Rh groups) and how it is used to avoid adverse reactions following blood transfusions

a) Blood typing is based on identifying the presence or absence of certain antigens

b) Blood typing is used to avoid serious complications, by determining compatibility of the blood types

How to determine a patient’s blood type by analyzing the results

a)

Explain why O- blood type is termed the “universal donor” and why AB+ blood type is termed the “universal recipient”

a) O- is the universal donor because it lacks antigens

b) AB+ is the universal recipient because it has A, B, and Rh antigens

Differentiate between a major and minor transfusion reactions

a) Minor - symptoms like fever, chills, mild hives, or itching, which usually resolve on their own

b) Major - symptoms like difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, chest pain, and signs of blood cell destruction

Explain erythroblastosis fetalis, how blood reactions can occur between maternal and fetal tissues, and how this is prevented with the use of RhoGAM

a) Erythroblastosis fetalis occurs when a fetus' blood type is not compatible with its mother’s. RhoGAM is a shot that destroys any of the baby’s blood that gets into the mother’s bloodstream so that the mother does not make antibodies against it.

Correlate abnormal blood cell counts to specific diseases

a)