Function of Blood

Function of blood:

Transportation – O2, Co2, nutrients, hormones, heat and H20

Regulation – Ph, body temp, water content of cells

Protection – clotting, WBC & antibodies

Plasma – 55%

RBC- 45%

WBC & Platelets- less than 1 %

Plasma- the liquid that remains after the removal of formed elements of blood.

Albumin – 54% of plasma protein, helps maintain blood osmotic pressure

Fibrinogen- 7% of plasma protein helps in the formation of blood clots

Formed elements include : Platelets, RBCs & WBCs

Hematocrit; the percentage of total blood volume occupied by RBCs

Polycythemia: abnormally high percentage of RBCs, hematocrit may be 65% or higher. Can be caused by: abnormal increase in RBC production, tissue hypoxia, dehydration, blood doping or the use of EPO by athletes.

Hemopoiesis – process by which formed elements of blood develop.

Formed elements are produced:

Liver, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes of fetus

Red Bone Marrow primary

Kidneys pay attention to the O2 content of blood & releases EPO, that stimulates the red bone marrow to make RBCs

Blood proteins are important in clotting, immunity & maintenance of blood volume and most are produced in the liver.

RBC anatomy & structure: biconcave, lack nucleus & organelles, cannot reproduce, cannot carry on metabolic activities, consist of plasma membrane, cytosol and Hgb.

Hgb: 02 carrying protein, pigment that gives blood its red color. Consists of protein:Globin composed of 4 polypeptide chains, non protein pigment called heme bound to each of the four chains and iron ion Fe2+.

Sickle cell : when Hgb is damaged and cannot