The BLOOD and HEMATOPOIETIC

SYSTEM

MC102 NUR – HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

St. Paul University Philippines - College of Nursing School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences - 2nd Semester 2019-2020
Learning Objectives
 On completion of the week’s activity, the students should be able to:
• discuss the functions of blood
• describe the components of blood
• describe the origin and production of formed elements
• discuss the structure, function, and life history of red blood cells
• compare the structures and functions of the five types of white blood cells
• discuss the origin and structure of platelets
• explain the formation and function of platelet plugs and blood clots
• describe the process of hemostasis and clot formation
• explain the basis of ABO and Rh incompatibilities
• predict the outcomes of blood and blood-related disorders
 THE HUMAN BLOOD
• “fluid of life”
• makes up 7-8% of the body’s weight
• mainly consists of plasma and formed cells
• provides the body with a constant supply
of oxygen and nutrients

• 5-7 liters is circulated per minute

• filtered 300 times a day (by the kidneys)
 THE HUMAN BLOOD
 Functions

• transport gases, nutrients and waste products

• transport of processed molecules
• transport of regulatory molecules
• regulation of pH and osmosis
• maintenance of body temperature
• protection against foreign substances
• clot formation
 THE HUMAN BLOOD
 Components
• plasma – liquid part that is pale yellow
• makes up 55% of the blood
• colloid – contains substances that do not settle in a
solution
• 91% water
• 9% - proteins, ions, nutrients, waste products and
regulatory substances
• formed elements – erythrocytes (RBCs), leukocytes
(WBCs) and thrombocytes (platelets)
THE HUMAN BLOOD

PLASMA

FORMED
ELEMENTS
 THE PLASMA
 Within it are ….
• suspended substances of which mostly are PROTEINS
• ALBUMIN – principal protein (makes up 58%)
• regulates the movement of water between tissues and blood
(colloid osmotic pressure)
• GLOBULIN – make up 38%
• part of the immune system and provides protection against
microorganisms
• FIBRINOGEN – makes up 4%
• responsible for the formation of blood clots and coagulation
process
THE HUMAN BLOOD
 THE PLASMA
 the volume remains relatively CONSTANT

 … this is due to the intake and output balance

THE PLASMA
 THE FORMED ELEMENTS
 makes up 45% of the blood
• 3 types:
• RBCs – 95%

• WBCs
5%
• Platelets

 formed through the process of HEMATOPOIESIS

HEMATOPOIESIS
THE FORMED ELEMENTS
 THE ERYTHROCYTES
 most abundant of the formed elements
 bi-concave in shape
 oxygen rich

FUNCTIONS:
 transport O2 from the lungs to the various parts of the
body/tissues
 transport CO2 from the tissues to the lungs
 THE ERYTHROCYTES
COMPONENTS:
 Hemoglobin – main component which is a pigmented protein
 oxygen rich component (oxyhemoglobin)
 98% of O2 are transported with it
 23% of CO2 are combined with it (from tissues)
 Lipids, ATP and carbonic anhydrase (enzyme)

NORMAL VALUES:
• RBC: males - 4.6 – 6.2 million/uL females – 4.2 – 5.4 million/uL
• Hemoglobin: males – 14 – 16 grams/dL (140 – 160 mg/L)
females – 12 – 14 grams/dL (120 – 140 mg/L)
 THE ERYTHROCYTES
HEMOGLOBIN – consists of four (4) polypeptide chains
(GLOBIN) and four (4) heme (IRON) group

 3 types: embryonic
fetal
adult: 60-90% are present at birth
 ERYTHROPOIESIS
 the process of producing “new” RBCs
 2.5 million RBCs are destroyed every second
 HOMEOSTASIS – plays a role in replacement
 1% of RBCs are replaced everyday

 4 days – average time required to produce a single new

RBC
 cell division requires: folate and cyanocobalamin (B
vitamins) necessary for DNA
synthesis
iron
 ERYTHROPOIESIS
 it is activated by the amount of circulating OXYGEN in the
body
NORMAL BREAKDOWN of RBCs
 THE LEUKOCYTES
 the “soldier cells” of the body
 function with the immune system
 form a thin layer of cells between
the plasma and RBCs (buffy coat)
 lack hemoglobin but has nucleus

 named according to their appearance

in stained preparations
 granulocytes
 agranulocytes
TYPES of LEUKOCYTES
 TYPES of LEUKOCYTES
Leukocyte Type Characteristics and Functions

NEUTROPHILS  comprise 60-70% of WBCs

 have small cytoplasmic granules
 polymorphonuclear (PMN - more than
one nuclei)
 normally remain in the circulation for
10-12 hours then phagocytize bacteria,
antigen-antibody complexes and other
foreign matter
 secrete lysozymes – capable of
destroying certain bacteria
 TYPES of LEUKOCYTES
Leukocyte Type Characteristics and Functions

EOSINOPHILS  comprise 2-4% of WBCs

 often have 2-lobed nucleus
 important in defense against worm
parasites and in allergic reactions
 attach to and release substances that
kill parasites
 modulate inflammatory response by
producing enzymes that destroy
inflammatory chemicals
 TYPES of LEUKOCYTES
Leukocyte Type Characteristics and Functions

BASOPHILS  comprise 0.5 – 1% of WBCs

 contain large cytoplasmic granules
 increase during allergic and
inflammatory reactions

 contain large amounts of HISTAMINE –

increase inflammation
 release HEPARIN – prevents blood
clotting
 TYPES of LEUKOCYTES
Leukocyte Type Characteristics and Functions

LYMPHOCYTES  comprise 20 – 25% of WBCs

 smallest WBCs
 originate in the bone marrow but
proliferate in the lymphatic tissues

 B cells can produce antibodies

 T cells Increase during VIRAL infections
 TYPES of LEUKOCYTES
Leukocyte Type Characteristics and Functions

MONOCYTES  comprise 3 – 8% of WBCs

 largest of the WBCs

 remain in the circulation for 3 days and

gets transformed into MACROPHAGES

 increased in CHRONIC INFECTIONS

 THE THROMBOCYTES
 also called PLATELETS
 minute fragments of cells consisting
of small cytoplasm surrounded by a
plasma membrane
 glycoproteins and proteins on their
surfaces attach to other molecules

 play important role in BLOOD

CLOTTING and PREVENTING
blood loss
 THE THROMBOCYTES
 live for 5 – 9 days
 produced within the red marrow and
are derived from megakaryocytes
 prevent blood loss by:
 forming platelet plugs that seal holes
in small vessels
 promoting the formation and contraction
of clots that help seal off larger wounds
in the vessels
 HEMOSTASIS and CLOT FORMATION
 HEMOSTASIS – is the internal control or stoppage of bleeding
 excessive bleeding can result in:
 blood loss – hypovolemia
 positive-feedback mechanism – ever decreasing blood volume and
blood pressure

 Hemostatic mechanisms:
• Vascular spasm – immediate but temporary constriction of a blood vessel
• Platelet plug formation – accumulation of platelets at the site of injury
• COAGULATION – formation of blood clot and activation of clotting factors
 HEMOSTASIS and CLOT FORMATION
 For clotting factors, refer to TABLE 19.3 on your
Seeley’s text book.
HEMOSTASIS and CLOT FORMATION
HEMOSTASIS and CLOT FORMATION
HEMOSTASIS and CLOT FORMATION
HEMOSTASIS and CLOT FORMATION
NORMAL BLOOD VALUES to REMEMBER
 BLOOD TRANSFUSION
 the process of administering blood and blood products to replace loss
from:
 surgery
 bleeding injuries
 clotting defects

 TRANSFUSION – the transfer of blood or blood

components from one individual to another
Goals: - prevent shock (hypovolemia)
- restore oxygen-carrying capacity of blood
 BLOOD TYPING and GROUPING
 RBCs – surfaces contain ANTIGENS
 Plasma – contain ANTIBODIES

 Combination of antigens and antibodies produce:

 agglutination (clumping together)
 hemolysis (breakdown of RBCs)

 In case transfusion is needed – CORRECT blood type

should be given
BLOOD TYPING and GROUPING
BLOOD TYPING and GROUPING
BLOOD TYPING and GROUPING
 BLOOD TYPING and GROUPING
• when mismatched blood is transfused, the recipient’s
agglutinins (plasma antibodies) clump the foreign RBCs

• the clumped cells are then lysed

• blood vessels may be blocked by clumped RBCs

• released hemoglobin may precipitate in the kidney tubules,

causing renal shutdown
 BLOOD TYPING and GROUPING
• Rh FACTOR or GROUP
 people whose RBCs have Rh antigens are designated Rh⁺ (Rh positive);
those who lack Rh antigens are designated Rh⁻ (Rh negative)

 (see related slides) normally, blood plasma does not contain anti-Rh
antibodies:
 If a Rh⁻ person receives an Rh⁺ blood transfusion, however, the immune
starts to make anti-Rh antibodies that will remain in the blood.

 If a second transfusion of Rh⁺ blood is given later, the previously formed

anti-Rh antibodies will cause agglutination and hemolysis of the RBCs in
the donated blood, and a severe reaction may occur
 BLOOD TYPING and GROUPING
 hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) is the most
common problem with Rh incompatibility that may
arise during pregnancy
 BLOOD TYPING and GROUPING
 RH FACTOR or GROUP
BLOOD TYPING and GROUPING
 COMMON DIAGNOSTIC BLOODTESTS
 Blood typing and cross matching – ABO and Rh factor compatibility testing
 Complete Blood Count (CBC) – analysis of blood components
 Erythrocyte count
 Hemoglobin count
 Hematocrit count
 Leukocyte count (differential count)
 Neutrophils
 Basophils
 Eosinophils
 Monocytes
 Lymphocytes
 Clotting
 Platelet count
 Prothrombin time measurement
 Blood Chemistry – test levels of dissolved or suspended materials in the plasma
References:
• Vanputte, C., Regan, J., & Russo, A. (2019). Seeley’s
Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology (10th Ed.) New York City,
McGraw Hill Education.

• Marieb, E.N. (2006). Essentials of Human Anatomy and

Physiology. San Francisco, Pearson.

• Tortora, G. J. (2006). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology.

(11th. Ed.). New Jersey, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.