Blood

Functions

Transportation: water, gases, nutrients,

hormones, enzymes, electrolytes, wastes
Regulation: pH, temperature, water balance
Protection: blood clotting, defense:
phagocytic cells, interferons, complement

Composition

A connective tissue with components readily

seen when blood is centrifuged:

Plasma(~55%): soluble materials (mostly

water); lighter (top of tube)
Formed elements (~45%): cells (heavier so at
bottom of tube)

Mostly red blood cells (RBCs)

Buffy coat: site of white blood cells (WBCs),
platelets

Composition

Plasma: Liquid Portion of

Water: 91.5%
Blood

Plasma proteins: 7%

Albumin (54%): function in osmosis; carriers

Globulins (38%): serve as antibodies
Fibrinogen (7%): important in clotting

Other: 1.5%

Electrolytes, nutrients, gases, hormones,

vitamins, waste products

Formed Elements
I. Red Blood Cells (RBCs)
II. White blood cells (WBCs)
A. Granular leukocytes
1. Neutrophils
2. Eosinophils
3. Basophils

B. Agranular leukocytes
1. Lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells
2. Monocytes

III Platelets

Formation of
Blood Cells

Erythrocytes (RBCs)

Hemoglobin (red pigment)

RBC count: about 5 million/l

Carries 98.5% of O2 and 23% of CO2

Male: 5.4 million cells/l; female: 4.8 million/l

Structure of mature RBC

No nucleus/DNA so RBCs live only 3 to 4 mos

Lack of nucleus causes biconcave disc shape
with extensive plasma membrane

Provides for maximal gas exchange

Is flexible for passing through capillaries

White Blood Cells (WBCs or

Leukocytes)

Appear white because lack hemoglobin

Normal WBC count: 5,000-10,000/l

WBC count usually increases in infection

Two major classes based on presence or

absence of granules (vesicles) in them

Granular: neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils

Neutrophils usually make up 2/3 of all WBCs

Agranular: lymphocytes, monocytes

Major function: defense against

Infection and inflammation

Antigen-antibody (allergic) reactions

WBC Life Span

WBCs: 5000-10,000 WBCs/l blood

Life span: typically a few hours to days

Abnormal WBC counts

Leukocytosis: high WBC count in response to

infection, exercise, surgery
Leukopenia: low WBC count

Platelets
megakaryocytes
Normal count: 150,000-400,000/l blood
Functions

Plug damaged blood vessels

Promote blood clotting

Life span 59 days

Blood Groups and Blood

Types

RBCs have antigens (agglutinogens) on their

surfaces
Each blood group consists of two or more
different blood types

Two examples:

ABO group has types A, B, AB, O

Rh group has type Rh positive (Rh+), Rh negative (Rh)

Blood types in each person are determined

by genetics

ABO Group

Two types of antigens on RBCs: A or B

Type A has only A antigen

Type B has only B antigen
Type AB has both A and B antigens
Type O has neither A nor B antigen

Typically blood has antibodies in plasma

These can react with antigens

Two types: anti-A antibody or anti-B antibody
Blood lacks antibodies against own antigens

Type A blood has anti-B antibodies (not anti-A)

Type AB blood has neither anti-A nor anti-B antibodies

ABO Group

Rh Blood Group

Name Rh: antigen found in rhesus monkey

Rh blood types

If RBCs have Rh antigen: Rh+

If RBCs lack Rh antigen: Rh

Antibodies develop in Rh- persons after first

exposure to Rh+ blood in transfusion (or
pregnancy hemolytic disease of newborn)

Transfusions

If mismatched blood (wrong blood type)

given, antibodies bind to antigens on RBCs
hemolyze RBCs
Type AB called universal recipients because
have no anti-A or anti-B antibodies so can
receive any ABO type blood
Type O called universal donors because
have neither A nor B antigen on RBCs so can
donate to any ABO type

Misleading because of many other blood groups

that must be matched