Anatomy & Physiology Chapter 15; Blood Blood performs these functions: Transport Regulation Protection o Blood delivers

ers oxygen from the lungs to every cell in the body o Blood picks up waste material from the cells and delivers the waste to organs that eliminate it from the body o Blood participates in the regulation of fluid and electrolyte balance, acid balance, and body temperature o Blood helps protect the body from infection Characteristics The color of blood varies from a bright red to a darker blue-red o Well Oxygenated blood = Bright red o Oxygen-poor = Blue-red The average adult has 4 to 6 L of blood pH; 7.35 to 7.45 Blood viscosity refers to the thickness or stickiness of the blood and affects the ease with which blood flows through the blood vessels Blood is normally three to five times more viscous than water Parts of blood Plasma o Pale yellow fluid composed mostly of water o Contains proteins, ions, nutrients, gases and waste Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes) o RBCs are primarily involved in the transport of oxygen to all body tissues White blood Cells (Leukocytes) o WBCs protect the body from infection Platelets (Thrombocytes) o Platelets protect the body from bleeding

Hematocrit Percentage of blood cells in a sample of blood

Hemopoisesis Three types of blood cells (RBC, WBC, and platelets) are made in hemopoietic tissue Two types of hemopoietic tissue in the adult are the red bone marrow and the lymphatic tissue which is found in the spleen, lymph nodes, and thymus gland

Anatomy & Physiology Chapter 15; Blood

Remember that RED BONE MARROW is found primarily in the ends of long bones I.e. femur, Also found flat bones & irregular bones o I.e. Sternum, cranial bones, vertebrae and bones of the pelvis Bone Marrow Depressed (Myelosuppression) Depressed bone marrow leads to a severe deficiency of RBCs, causing a serious form of anemia Aplastic anemia Deficiency of WBCs Leukopenia o Defenseless against infection Depressed bone marrow may also produce inadequate numbers of platelets, or thrombocytes Thrombocytopenia o Individual is at high risk for hemorrhage Bone Over-Activity (Polycythemia Vera) The over-activity & excess production of blood cells Excess thickened blood burden the heart Overwhelms the clotting system Causes beet-red face & palms Differences in bone marrow 1. Myelosuppression a. Low RBC count b. Low hematocrit c. Low hemoglobin d. Appears pale 2. Polycythemia Vera a. Elevated RBC count b. Elevated hematocrit c. Elevated hemoglobin d. Ruddy or red face Blood cells 1. Erythrocytes Between 4.5 and 6.0 million RBCs are in one microliter of blood RBCs are primarily concerned with the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide The immature RBC is called a reticulocyte Reticulocytes can develop into mature RBCs within 48 hrs. of release into the blood RBCs are large, disc-shaped cells

Anatomy & Physiology Chapter 15; Blood o Thick outer rim & thin center RBCs can bend & squeeze its way through tiny blood vessels o Flexibility allows the RBC to deliver oxygen to every cell in the body Decreased oxygen generation and cell death occur in a condition known as sickle cell disease o Assume a C shape or sickle shape and block blood flow through the tiny blood vessels Anisocytosis Unequal-sized RBCs Poikilocytosis Irregularly shaped RBCs RBCs produces ATP anaerobically RBCs CANNOT replicate o Old RBCs are removed from the blood and replaced by a new RBC made in the bone marrow Hemoglobin consists of two parts: o Globin (protein) o Heme (an iron-containing substance) For adequate amount of hemoglobin we need: Iron Vitamin B12 Folic acid Protein The life span of a RBC is about 120 days o The ragged RBC membrane is detected by the macrophages that line the spleen and liver o The macrophages, or big eaters, remove RBCs from the circulation and phagocytose them The globin is broken down into various amino acids that are later used in the synthesis of other proteins Hyperbilirubinemia Excess bilirubin in the blood

2. White Blood Cells Large round cells that contain nuclei Lack hemoglobin and are less numerous then RBCs Used to protect the body by destroying disease-producing microorganisms (pathogens) and removing dead tissue and other cellular debris by phagocytosis When infection is present, WBC count increases One microliter of blood contains between 5000 10000 WBCs o WBCs spend about 12 hrs. in the blood Process of WBC production Leukopoiesis WBCs contains granules Granulocytes o Produced in red bone marrow

Anatomy & Physiology Chapter 15; Blood Neutrophils (phagocytosis) Most common granulocyte Pale or stain lavender Account for 55% - 70% of total WBC Remain in blood (10-12 hrs.) Cells move quickly to site of infection, and remove tissue debris Left behind at the site of infection is collection of dead neutrophils, parts of cells, and fluid = pus Abscess one way for the body to prevent the spread of infection Basophils (Inflammatory responses, release of heparin) 2nd type of granulocytic WBCs Present in small numbers Make up less than 1% Absorb a dark blue stain Play role in inflammatory response release of histamine o Also releases heparin (anti-coagulant) Eosinophil (Inflammatory response, parasitic infection & allergies) Rosy stain Make up 1-3% Involved in inflammatory response, secretin chemicals that destroy certain parasites, engage in phagocytosis and elevated allergies WBCs that have NO granules Agranulocytes o Lymphocytes (Immunity) Produced in the red bone marrow 25% to 38% of the WBCs Important in the role of the bodys immune response o Monocytes (Phagocytosis) Phagocytotic 3% to 8% - more efficient than neutrophils Differentiate or change into macrophages Wandering macrophages travel/wander about the body, patrolling for pathogens and cleaning up debris Abundant under mucous membranes and skin Fixed macrophages reside in a particular organ, such as the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, or red bone marrow 3. Platelets Contain between 150,000 & 450,000 platelets/thrombocytes Have life span of 5 to 9 days

Anatomy & Physiology Chapter 15; Blood Production of platelets thrombopoiesis Platelets prevent blood loss

Complete blood count (CBC) Lab test that provides information about the composition of the blood Indicated the normal hemoglobin (Hgb) Normal Hct & the percentage of the reticulocytes (immature RBC) Hemostasis Process that stops bleeding Three events o Blood vessel spasm o Platelet plug o Blood clotting Blood Vessel Spasm When a blood vessel is injured, the smooth muscle in the blood vessel wall contracts Vascular spasm o Vascular spasms cause the diameter of the blood vessel to decrease thereby decreasing amount of blood that flows through the vessel o In larger vessels, spasms only slow the bleeding (mostly insufficient to stop bleeding) Formation of a platelet plug When a blood vessel is torn, the inner lining of the vessel activated platelets Platelets begin to become sticky and adhere to the inner lining Sticking together, they form platelet plug plug diminishes bleeding at the injured site o Eventually the blood-clotting factor will evolve into a stable, strong blood clot Exercise decreases platelet stickiness and formation of deadly clots Stress increases platelet stickiness Aspirin and bleeding Aspirin slows vascular spasms and exerts antiplatelet effect A baby aspirin keeps the heart doctor away Excessive aspirin causes serious bleeding Blood clotting Formed by a series of chemical reactions that result in the formation of a netlike structure Netlike structure protein fibers fibrin

Anatomy & Physiology Chapter 15; Blood When blood flows through the fibrin, RBCs and Platelets become trapped The fibrin and trapped elements = Blood clot The blood clot seals off the opening in the injured blood vessel and stops the bleeding

Formation of a blood clot 1.) Clotting factors are initiated, clotting factors produce prothrombin 2.) Calcium, platelet chemicals and PTA, Prothrombin activate to form Thrombin 3.) Thrombin activates fibrinogen, fibrinogen forms fibrin fibers, or fibrin net; the net traps other blood cells and particles to form the clot Anticoagulants Endothelium o If the surface of the endothelium becomes roughened or lined with cholesterol plaques, coagulation factors are activated and blood clots are apt to form Secretion of Heparin o Heparin is secreted by mast cells Mast cells are basophils that are concentrated in and around the liver and lungs o Heparin acts as an anticoagulant by removing thrombin from the clotting process (heparin is an anticoagulant thrombin agent) Anticoagulant medications o Anticoagulants are administered in an attempt to prevent the formation of a blood clot o Blood clot thrombus o Process of blood clot formation thrombus o A piece of the thrombus can break off, forming an embolus traveling blood clot Embolus can lodge into blood vessels of other organs, blocking flow eventually resulting in damage such as: Pulmonary infarct (necrosis) Heart attack Brain attack (stroke) o Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) a clot deep in the veins of the legs The person with DVT needs to continue moving, and cant sit for long periods of time o