Functions and Composition of Blood 5. Worn-out red blood cells are phagocytized by
1. Blood transports gases, nutrients, waste products, macrophages in the spleen or liver. Hemoglobin is broke
processed molecules, and regulatory molecules. down, iron and amino acids are reused, and heme
2. Blood regulates pH, fluid, and ion balance. becomes bilirubin that is secreted in bile.
3. Blood is involved with temperature regulation and
protects against foreign substances such as White Blood Cells
microorganisms and toxins. 1. White blood cells protect the body against
4. Blood clotting prevents fluid and cell loss and is part of microorganisms and remove dead cells and debris.
tissue repair.
5. Blood is a connective tissue consisting of plasma and 2. Five types of white blood cells exist.
formed elements. Total blood volume is approximately 5 - Neutrophils are small phagocytic cells.
L. - Neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils release
chemicals that promote inflammation.
Plasma - Lymphocytes are important in immunity, including
1. Plasma is mostly water (91%) and contains proteins, the production of antibodies.
such as albumin (maintains osmotic pressure), globulins - Monocytes leave the blood, enter tissues, and
(function in transport and immunity), fibrinogen (is become large phagocytic cells called
involved in clot formation), and hormones and enzymes macrophages.
(are involved in regulation).
2. Plasma contains ions, nutrients, waste products, and Platelets
gases. - Platelets are cell fragments involved with
preventing blood loss.
Formed Elements
- The formed elements include red blood cells Preventing Blood Loss
(erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and
platelets (cell fragments). Vascular Spasm
- Blood vessels constrict in response to injury,
Production of Formed Elements resulting in decreased blood flow.
Formed elements arise in red bone marrow from stem Platelet Plugs
cells (hemocytoblasts). 1. Platelets repair minor damage to blood vessels by
forming platelet plugs.
Red Blood Cells - In platelet adhesion, platelets bind to collagen in
1. Red blood cells are biconcave discs containing damaged tissues.
hemoglobin and carbonic anhydrase. - In the platelet release reaction, platelets release
- A hemoglobin molecule consists of four heme and chemicals that activate additional platelets.
four globin molecules. The heme molecules - In platelet aggregation, platelets bind to one
transport oxygen. Iron is required for oxygen another to form a platelet plug.
transport. 2. Platelets also release chemicals (ADP and
- The globin molecules transport carbon dioxide. thromboxanes) involved with blood clotting.
2. Carbon dioxide is transported dissolved in plasma
(7%), bound to hemoglobin (23%), and as bicarbonate Blood Clotting
ions (70%). 1. Blood clotting, or coagulation, is the formation of a clo
3. Carbonic anhydrase in red blood cells promotes the (a network of protein fibers called fibrin).
formation of bicarbonate ions. 2. Blood clotting begins with the extrinsic or intrinsic
4. Erythropoiesis is the production of red blood cells. pathway. Both pathways end with the production of
- Stem cells in red bone marrow give rise to activated factor X.
proerythroblasts. Through a series of cell division - The extrinsic pathway begins with the release of
and differentiation, cells accumulate hemoglobin, thromboplastin from damaged tissues.
lose their nuclei, and are released into the blood - The intrinsic pathway begins with the activation o
as reticulocytes, which become red blood cells. factor XII.
- In response to low blood oxygen, the kidneys 3. Activated factor X, factor V, phospholipids, and Ca2+
produce erythropoietin, which stimulates form prothrombinase.
erythropoiesis.
1. Blood transports gases, nutrients, waste products, macrophages in the spleen or liver. Hemoglobin is broke
processed molecules, and regulatory molecules. down, iron and amino acids are reused, and heme
2. Blood regulates pH, fluid, and ion balance. becomes bilirubin that is secreted in bile.
3. Blood is involved with temperature regulation and
protects against foreign substances such as White Blood Cells
microorganisms and toxins. 1. White blood cells protect the body against
4. Blood clotting prevents fluid and cell loss and is part of microorganisms and remove dead cells and debris.
tissue repair.
5. Blood is a connective tissue consisting of plasma and 2. Five types of white blood cells exist.
formed elements. Total blood volume is approximately 5 - Neutrophils are small phagocytic cells.
L. - Neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils release
chemicals that promote inflammation.
Plasma - Lymphocytes are important in immunity, including
1. Plasma is mostly water (91%) and contains proteins, the production of antibodies.
such as albumin (maintains osmotic pressure), globulins - Monocytes leave the blood, enter tissues, and
(function in transport and immunity), fibrinogen (is become large phagocytic cells called
involved in clot formation), and hormones and enzymes macrophages.
(are involved in regulation).
2. Plasma contains ions, nutrients, waste products, and Platelets
gases. - Platelets are cell fragments involved with
preventing blood loss.
Formed Elements
- The formed elements include red blood cells Preventing Blood Loss
(erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and
platelets (cell fragments). Vascular Spasm
- Blood vessels constrict in response to injury,
Production of Formed Elements resulting in decreased blood flow.
Formed elements arise in red bone marrow from stem Platelet Plugs
cells (hemocytoblasts). 1. Platelets repair minor damage to blood vessels by
forming platelet plugs.
Red Blood Cells - In platelet adhesion, platelets bind to collagen in
1. Red blood cells are biconcave discs containing damaged tissues.
hemoglobin and carbonic anhydrase. - In the platelet release reaction, platelets release
- A hemoglobin molecule consists of four heme and chemicals that activate additional platelets.
four globin molecules. The heme molecules - In platelet aggregation, platelets bind to one
transport oxygen. Iron is required for oxygen another to form a platelet plug.
transport. 2. Platelets also release chemicals (ADP and
- The globin molecules transport carbon dioxide. thromboxanes) involved with blood clotting.
2. Carbon dioxide is transported dissolved in plasma
(7%), bound to hemoglobin (23%), and as bicarbonate Blood Clotting
ions (70%). 1. Blood clotting, or coagulation, is the formation of a clo
3. Carbonic anhydrase in red blood cells promotes the (a network of protein fibers called fibrin).
formation of bicarbonate ions. 2. Blood clotting begins with the extrinsic or intrinsic
4. Erythropoiesis is the production of red blood cells. pathway. Both pathways end with the production of
- Stem cells in red bone marrow give rise to activated factor X.
proerythroblasts. Through a series of cell division - The extrinsic pathway begins with the release of
and differentiation, cells accumulate hemoglobin, thromboplastin from damaged tissues.
lose their nuclei, and are released into the blood - The intrinsic pathway begins with the activation o
as reticulocytes, which become red blood cells. factor XII.
- In response to low blood oxygen, the kidneys 3. Activated factor X, factor V, phospholipids, and Ca2+
produce erythropoietin, which stimulates form prothrombinase.
erythropoiesis.
