Blood

FUNCTIONS OF
BLOOD
 Functions of Blood
1. Transport of gases, nutrients and waste products
2. Regulation of pH and osmosis
3. Maintenance of body temperature
4. Protection against foreign substances
5. Clot formation
Composition of Blood
Hematopoiesis
• Hematopoiesis is the process that produces formed elements.
• In the fetus, hematopoiesis occurs in several tissues, including the
liver, thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, and red bone marrow.
• After birth, hematopoiesis is confined primarily to red bone
marrow, but some white blood cells are produced in lymphatic
tissues.
• All the formed elements of blood are derived from a single
population of cells called stem cells, or hemocytoblasts.
• These stem cells differentiate to give rise to different cell lines,
each of which ends with the formation of a particular type of
formed element
Hematopoiesis
Erythrocytes
• Red blood cells (RBC)
• Function: transport O2 to
tissues
• Disk-shaped with thick
edges
• Nucleus is lost during
development
• Live for 120 days
Hemoglobin
Main component of erythrocytes

Transports O2

Each globin protein is attached to a heme molecule

Each heme contains one iron atom

O2 binds to iron

Oxyhemoglobin:

• hemoglobin with an O2 attached

Red Blood Cell Production
Fate of Old Erythrocytes and
Hemoglobin
• Old red blood cells are removed from blood by macrophages in spleen and
liver

• Hemoglobin is broken down

• Globin is broken down into amino acids

• Hemoglobin’s iron is recycled

• Heme is converted to bilirubin

• Bilirubin is taken up by liver and released into small intestine as part of bile
Leukocytes
White blood cells (WBC)
Lack hemoglobin
Larger than erythrocytes
Contain a nucleus
Functions:
• fight infections
• remove dead cells and debris by phagocytosis
 Types of Leukocytes
Granulocytes: contain specific granules and include neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils

1. Neutrophils:

• most common

• remain in blood for 10 to 12 hours then move to tissues

• Phagocytes

2. Eosinophils:

• reduce inflammation

• destroy parasites

3. Basophils:
• least common

• release histamine and heparin

 Types of Leukocytes
Agranulocytes: no specific granules

1. Monocytes:

• largest sized white blood cells

• produce macrophages

2. Lymphocytes:

• immune response

• several different types (T cells and B cells)

• lead to production of antibodies

Platelets
• Platelets are minute fragments of cells, each consisting of a
small amount of cytoplasm surrounded by a cell membrane.
• They are produced in the red bone marrow from large cells
called megakaryocytes.
• Small fragments break off from the megakaryocytes and
enter the blood as platelets.
• Platelets play an important role in preventing blood loss.
 Blood Loss
• When blood vessels are damaged, blood can leak into
other tissues and disrupt normal function.
• Blood that is lost must be replaced by production of new
blood or by a transfusion.
Blood Grouping
Injury or surgery can lead to a blood transfusion
Transfusion reactions/Agglutination:
• clumping of blood cells (bad)
Antigens:
• molecules on surface of erythrocytes
Antibodies:
• proteins in plasma that bind to specific antigens
Blood groups:
• named according to antigen (ABO)
ABO Blood Groups
Blood Donor and Recipient According to ABO Blood Types
Results and Interpretation
Rh Blood Group
• Rh positive means you have Rh antigens
• 95 to 85% of the population is Rh+
• Antibodies only develop if an Rh- person is exposed to Rh+ blood by
transfusion or from mother to fetus
 Rh Incompatibility in Pregnancy

• If mother is Rh- and fetus is Rh+ the mother can

be exposed to Rh+ blood if fetal blood leaks
through placenta and mixes with mother’s blood.

• First time this occurs mother’s blood produces

antibodies against antigens.

• Any repeated mixing of blood causes a reaction.

Hemolytic Disease of Newborn

This condition
• occurs when mother produces anti-Rh antibodies that cross placenta
and agglutination and hemolysis of fetal erythrocytes occurs
• can be fatal to fetus
• prevented if mother is treated with RhoGAM which contains
antibodies against Rh antigens
 Diagnostic Blood Tests
Complete blood count:
• provides information such as RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and WBC count
Hematocrit:
• % of total blood volume composed of RBC
Hemoglobin:
• determines amount of hemoglobin
• indicates anemia
 Diagnostic Blood Tests

Prothrombin time:
• time it takes for blood to begin clotting (9 to 12 sec.)
White blood cell count:
• total number of white blood cells
White Blood Cell Disorders
Leukopenia:
• low white blood cell count
• caused by radiation, chemotherapy drugs, tumors, viral infections
Leukocytosis:
• high white blood cell count
• caused by infections and leukemia
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