BIOS3070 Blood clotting and diseases Lecture 1 2025

Page 1: Introduction to Blood

Overview

This course on Human Anatomy and Physiology I, instructed by Dr. Jose Ortega-Roldan, covers essential aspects of hematology, focusing on the composition, function, and disorders of blood as well as the mechanisms involved in hemostasis and coagulation.

Topics Covered:

• Components and Functions of Blood: Understanding different cellular and soluble components that participate in vital physiological processes.

• Coagulation Pathways: Detailed study of intrinsic and extrinsic pathways leading to the formation of a clot, including key factors involved in the coagulation cascade.

• Diseases of Blood: Examination of various blood disorders, their pathophysiology, symptoms, and treatments.

Key Focus Areas:

• Composition and Function of Plasma: Deep dive into the liquid component of blood, its proteins, and its role in maintaining pH balance, osmotic pressure, and transporting nutrients and waste.

• Formed Elements of the Blood: Analysis of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, emphasizing their specific roles and functions in immunity, oxygen transport, and clotting.

• Clotting Process Post-Blood Vessel Injury: A thorough overview of the hemostasis process including the series of events that occur after vascular injury and the regulatory mechanisms involved.

• Major Blood Diseases: A detailed exploration of conditions such as anemia, leukemia, and coagulation disorders, including their causes, diagnosis, and treatment strategies.

Page 2: Functions of Blood

Transport Functions:

• Oxygen: Blood serves as a medium to carry oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body, facilitated by hemoglobin within red blood cells.

• Nutrients: Distributes essential nutrients like glucose, amino acids, and lipids absorbed from the digestive tract to cells for energy and growth.

• Waste Materials: Acts as a conduit for transporting metabolic waste products, such as carbon dioxide and urea, to excretion sites like the lungs and kidneys to maintain homeostasis.

• Hormones & Cytokines: Carries various signaling molecules that mediate communication and coordinate physiological responses among different organs.

Protection:

• Immune Response Against Infections: Blood contains white blood cells that play a crucial role in identifying and eliminating pathogens, thus contributing to the body's immune defense.

• Hemostasis (Clotting): Blood coagulation prevents excessive blood loss following injury. The clotting factors interact in a series of well-defined steps to form a stable clot.

Homeostasis:

• Blood also helps maintain internal consistent conditions through processes such as thermoregulation (temperature control), pH balance (acid-base homeostasis), and water balance, which ensures overall physiological stability.