Blood

Blood is a liquid tissue. Suspended in the watery plasma are seven types of cells and cell fragments. red blood cells (RBCs) or erythrocytes platelets or thrombocytes five kinds of white blood cells (WBCs) or leukocytes Three kinds of granulocytes neutrophils eosinophils basophils Two kinds of leukocytes without granules in their cytoplasm lymphocytes monocytes

If one takes a sample of blood, treats it with an agent to prevent clotting, and spins it in a centrifuge, the red cells settle to the bottom the white cells settle on top of them forming the "buffy coat". The fraction occupied by the red cells is called the hematocrit. Normally it is approximately 45%. Values much lower than this are a sign of anemia.

Functions of the blood transport through the body oxygen and carbon dioxide food molecules (glucose, lipids, amino acids) ions (e.g., Na+, Ca2+, HCO3) wastes (e.g., urea) hormones heat

defense of the body against infections and other foreign materials. All the WBCs participate in these defenses. Prevent loss of blood through coagulation

The formation of blood cells

Patients blood is drawn and allowed to clot, then the clear fluid is extracted without the fibrin, red and white blood cells, or platelets. This is called serum

Anticoagulant agent: A medication used as a "blood-thinner" to prevent the formation of blood clots and to maintain open blood vessels. Anticoagulants have various uses. Some are used for the prophylaxis (prevention) or the treatment of thromboembolic disorders. Thrombi are clots. Emboli are clots that break free, travel through the bloodstream, and lodge therein. The anticoagulant drugs used for these clinical purposes include: Intravenous heparin -- which acts by inactivating thrombin and several other clotting factors required for a clot to form; Oral anticoagulants such as warfarin and dicumarol -- which act by inhibiting the liver's production of vitamin K dependent factors crucial to clotting. Anticoagulant solutions are also used for the preservation of stored whole blood and blood fractions. These anticoagulants include heparin and acid citrate dextrose (commonly called ACD).

 Anticoagulants are also used to keep laboratory blood specimens from clotting.

These agents include not only heparin but also several agents that make calcium ions unavailable to the clotting process and so prevent the formation of clots; these agents include
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (commonly called EDTA), citrate, oxalate and fluoride.