HISTOLOGY

CHAPTER 12: BLOOD

OUTLINE HCO3−)
Wastes (breakdown products of Waste products serve no function in the
Composition of Plasma metabolism) (eg, lactic acid, blood plasma; they are merely being
Blood Cells creatinine, urea, bilirubin, transported to the liver and kidneys where
Erythrocytes ammonia) they can be removed from the blood
Leukocytes
Platelets Blood Cells
Erythrocytes
 Blood – a specialized connective tissue consisting  Erythrocytes (red blood cells [RBCs]) – terminally
of cells and fluid extracellular material called differentiated structures lacking nuclei and
plasma completely filled with the O2-carrying protein
 Formed elements – erythrocytes (red blood cells), hemoglobin
leukocytes (white blood cells [WBCs]), and  Hemoglobin – tetrameric O2-carrying protein that
platelets accounts for the cells’ uniform acidophilia
 Serum – contains growth factors and other proteins  Human erythrocytes normally survive in the
released from platelets during clot formation, circulation for about 120 days
which confer biological properties very different
from those of plasma
 Hematocrit – volume of erythrocytes in the blood,
normally 40%
 Buffy coat – a thin gray-white layer between the
plasma and the hematocrit, about 1%
Figure 2. Normal human erythrocytes

Leukocytes
 Leukocytes (WBCs) - leave the blood and migrate
to the tissues where they become functional and
perform various activities related to immunity

Figure 1. Composition of Blood

Composition of Plasma
 Plasma – an aqueous solution, pH 7.4, containing
substances of low or high molecular weight
Table 1. Composition of Blood Plasma
Plasma Component Functions
(Percentage of Plasma)
Water (~92% of plasma) Is the solvent in which formed elements are
suspended and proteins and solutes are
dissolved
Plasma proteins (~7% of All proteins serve to buffer against pH
plasma) changes
Albumin (~58% of plasma Exerts osmotic force to retain fluid within
proteins) the microvasculature
Contributes to blood’s viscosity
Binds and transports some fatty acids,
electrolytes, hormones, and drugs
Globulins (~37% of plasma α-Globulins transport lipids and some metal
proteins) ions
β-Globulins transport iron ions and lipids in
bloodstream
γ-Globulins are antibodies with various
immune functions
Fibrinogen (~4% of plasma Participates in blood coagulation (clotting);
proteins) precursor of fibrin
Regulatory proteins (>1% Consists of enzymes,
of plasma proteins) proenzymes, hormones, and
the complement system
Other Solutes (~1% of Blood Plasma)
Electrolytes (eg, sodium, Help establish and maintain membrane
potassium, calcium, chloride, potentials, maintain pH balance, and regulate
iron, bicarbonate, and osmosis (control of the percentages of water
hydrogen) and salt in the blood)
Nutrients (eg, amino acids, Energy source; precursor for
glucose, cholesterol, vitamins, synthesizing other molecules
fatty acids)
Respiratory gases (eg, oxygen: > Oxygen is needed for aerobic
2% dissolved in plasma, 98% cellular respiration; carbon
bound to hemoglobin within dioxide is a waste product
erythrocytes; and carbon dioxide: produced by cells during this
~7% dissolved in plasma, ~27% process
bound to hemoglobin within
erythrocytes, ~66% converted to

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