blood

Blood is a specialized bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the bo

dy's cells such as nutrients and oxygen and transports waste products away from
those same cells.
In vertebrates, it is composed of blood cells suspended in a liquid called blood
plasma. Plasma, which constitutes 55% of blood fluid, is mostly water (90% by v
olume),[1] and contains dissolved proteins, glucose, mineral ions, hormones, car
bon dioxide (plasma being the main medium for excretory product transportation),
platelets and blood cells themselves. The blood cells present in blood are main
ly red blood cells (also called RBCs or erythrocytes) and white blood cells, inc
luding leukocytes and platelets. The most abundant cells in vertebrate blood are
red blood cells. These contain hemoglobin, an iron-containing protein, which fa
cilitates transportation of oxygen by reversibly binding to this respiratory gas
and greatly increasing its solubility in blood. In contrast, carbon dioxide is
almost entirely transported extracellularly dissolved in plasma as bicarbonate i
on.
Vertebrate blood is bright red when its hemoglobin is oxygenated. Some animals,
such as crustaceans and mollusks, use hemocyanin to carry oxygen, instead of hem
oglobin. Insects and some molluscs use a fluid called hemolymph instead of blood
, the difference being that hemolymph is not contained in a closed circulatory s
ystem. In most insects, this "blood" does not contain oxygen-carrying molecules
such as hemoglobin because their bodies are small enough for their tracheal syst
em to suffice for supplying oxygen.
Jawed vertebrates have an adaptive immune system, based largely on white blood c
ells. White blood cells help to resist infections and parasites. Platelets are i
mportant in the clotting of blood.[2] Arthropods, using hemolymph, have hemocyte
s as part of their immune system.
Blood is circulated around the body through blood vessels by the pumping action
of the heart. In animals with lungs, arterial blood carries oxygen from inhaled
air to the tissues of the body, and venous blood carries carbon dioxide, a waste
product of metabolism produced by cells, from the tissues to the lungs to be ex
haled.
Medical terms related to blood often begin with hemo- or hemato- (also spelled h
aemo- and haemato-) from the Ancient Greek word a?µa (haima) for "blood". In ter
ms of anatomy and histology, blood is considered a specialized form of connectiv
e tissue, given its origin in the bones and the presence of potential molecular
fibers in the form of fibrinogen.

blood plasma
Blood plasma is the yellow liquid component of blood in which the blood cells in
whole blood are normally suspended. It makes up about 55% of the total blood vo
lume. It is the intravascular fluid part of extracellular fluid. It is mostly wa
ter (90% by volume) and contains dissolved proteins, glucose, clotting factors,
mineral ions, hormones and carbon dioxide (plasma being the main medium for excr
etory product transportation). Blood plasma is prepared by spinning a tube of fr
esh blood containing an anti-coagulant in a centrifuge until the blood cells fal
l to the bottom of the tube. The blood plasma is then poured or drawn off.[1] Bl
ood plasma has a density of approximately 1025 kg/m3, or 1.025 kg/l.[2]
Blood serum is blood plasma without fibrinogen or the other clotting factors (i.
e., whole blood minus both the cells and the clotting factors).[1]
Plasmapheresis is a medical therapy that involves blood plasma extraction, treat
ment, and reintegration.

red blood cell

Red blood cells (also referred to as erythrocytes) are the most common type of b
lood cell and the vertebrate organism's principal means of delivering oxygen (O2
) to the body tissues via the blood flow through the circulatory system. They ta
ke up oxygen in the lungs or gills and release it while squeezing through the bo
dy's capillaries.
These cells' cytoplasm is rich in hemoglobin, an iron-containing biomolecule tha
t can bind oxygen and is responsible for the blood's red color.
In humans, mature red blood cells are flexible biconcave disks that lack a cell
nucleus and most organelles. 2.4 million new erythrocytes are produced per secon
d.[1] The cells develop in the bone marrow and circulate for about 100 120 days in
the body before their components are recycled by macrophages. Each circulation
takes about 20 seconds. Approximately a quarter of the cells in the human body a
re red blood cells.[2][3]
Red blood cells are also known as RBCs, red blood corpuscles (an archaic term),
haematids, erythroid cells or erythrocytes (from Greek erythros for "red" and ky
tos for "hollow", with cyte translated as "cell" in modern usage). The capitaliz
ed term Red Blood Cells is the proper name in the US for erythrocytes in storage
solution used in transfusion medicine.[4]

blood type
A blood type (also called a blood group) is a classification of blood based on t
he presence or absence of inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red b
lood cells (RBCs). These antigens may be proteins, carbohydrates, glycoproteins,
or glycolipids, depending on the blood group system. Some of these antigens are
also present on the surface of other types of cells of various tissues. Several
of these red blood cell surface antigens that stem from one allele (or very clo
sely linked genes), collectively form a blood group system.[1] Blood types are i
nherited and represent contributions from both parents. A total of 30 human bloo
d group systems are now recognized by the International Society of Blood Transfu
sion (ISBT).[2]
Many pregnant women carry a fetus with a different blood type from their own, an
d the mother can form antibodies against fetal RBCs. Sometimes these maternal an
tibodies are IgG, a small immunoglobulin, which can cross the placenta and cause
hemolysis of fetal RBCs, which in turn can lead to hemolytic disease of the new
born, an illness of low fetal blood counts that ranges from mild to severe.[3]

blood transfution
Blood transfusion is the process of transferring blood or blood-based products f
rom one person into the circulatory system of another. Blood transfusions can be
life-saving in some situations, such as massive blood loss due to trauma, or ca
n be used to replace blood lost during surgery. Blood transfusions may also be u
sed to treat a severe anaemia or thrombocytopenia caused by a blood disease. Peo
ple suffering from hemophilia or sickle-cell disease may require frequent blood
transfusions. Early transfusions used whole blood, but modern medical practice c
ommonly uses only components of the blood.

blood vessel
The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transport blood th
roughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, w
hich carry the blood away from the heart; the capillaries, which enable the actu
al exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and the tissues; and the ve
ins, which carry blood from the capillaries back toward the heart.

blood donation
A blood donation occurs when a healthy person voluntarily has blood drawn and us
ed for transfusions or made into medications by a process called fractionation.
In the developed world, most blood donors are unpaid volunteers who give blood f
or a community supply. In poorer countries, established supplies are limited and
donors usually give blood when family or friends need a transfusion. Many donor
s donate as an act of charity, but some are paid and in some cases there are inc
entives other than money such as paid time off from work. A donor can also have
blood drawn for their own future use. Donating is relatively safe, but some dono
rs have bruising where the needle is inserted or may feel faint.
Potential donors are evaluated for anything that might make their blood unsafe t
o use. The screening includes testing for diseases that can be transmitted by a
blood transfusion, including HIV and viral hepatitis. The donor is also asked ab
out medical history and given a short physical examination to make sure that the
donation is not hazardous to his or her health. How often a donor can give vari
es from days to months based on what he or she donates and the laws of the count
ry where the donation takes place. For example, in the United States donors must
wait 8 weeks (56 days) between whole blood donations but only three days betwee
n plateletpheresis donations. [1]
The amount of blood drawn and the methods vary, but a typical donation is 450 mi
lliliters (or approximately one US pint)[2] of whole blood. The collection can b
e done manually or with automated equipment that only takes specific portions of
the blood. Most of the components of blood used for transfusions have a short s
helf life, and maintaining a constant supply is a persistent problem.

blood plus
Blood+, pronounced as "Blood Plus", is an anime series produced by Production I.
G and Aniplex and directed by Junichi Fujisaku. The series premiered in Japan on
Sony's anime satellite channel, Animax, as well as on terrestrial networks such
as MBS, TBS, and RKB on October 8, 2005. The final episode aired on September 2
3, 2006. Blood+ is licensed for international distribution in several regions th
rough Sony Pictures' international arm, Sony Pictures Television International (
SPTI).
Blood+ was inspired by the 2000 anime film Blood: The Last Vampire; however, the
re are only a few allusions and basic elements from the film. Fujisaku has been
involved with both works, including acting as the director for Blood+ and writin
g the novelization of Blood: The Last Vampire.

blood pressure
Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls
of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. During each heartbeat
, BP varies between a maximum (systolic) and a minimum (diastolic) pressure.[1]
The mean BP, due to pumping by the heart and resistance to flow in blood vessels
, decreases as the circulating blood moves away from the heart through arteries.
Blood pressure drops most rapidly along the small arteries and arterioles, and
continues to decrease as the blood moves through the capillaries and back to the
heart through veins.[2] Gravity, valves in veins, and pumping from contraction
of skeletal muscles, are some other influences on BP at various places in the bo
dy.
The term blood pressure usually refers to the pressure measured at a person's up
per arm. It is measured on the inside of an elbow at the brachial artery, which
is the upper arm's major blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. A
person's BP is usually expressed in terms of the systolic pressure and diastolic
pressure (mmHg), for example 120/80.

hypertension or high blood pressure

Hypertension (HTN) or high blood pressure is a chronic medical condition in whic
h the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated. It is the opposite of hypotens
ion. It is classified as either primary (essential) or secondary. About 90 95% of
cases are termed "primary hypertension", which refers to high blood pressure for
which no medical cause can be found.[1] The remaining 5 10% of cases (Secondary h
ypertension) are caused by other conditions that affect the kidneys, arteries, h
eart, or endocrine system.[2]
Persistent hypertension is one of the risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, h
eart failure and arterial aneurysm, and is a leading cause of chronic kidney fai
lure.[3] Moderate elevation of arterial blood pressure leads to shortened life e
xpectancy. Both dietary and lifestyle changes as well as medicines can improve b
lood pressure control and decrease the risk of associated health complications.

blood bank
A blood bank is a cache or bank of blood or blood components, gathered as a resu
lt of blood donation, stored and preserved for later use in blood transfusion. T
he term "Blood bank" typically refers to a division of a hospital laboratory whe
re the storage of blood product occurs and where proper testing is performed to
reduce the risk of transfusion related events. This includes compatibility testi
ng for transfusion and may include blood donation processing, depending on the c
apabilities of the facility.

true blood
True Blood is an American television drama series created and produced by Alan B
all. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine
Harris, and details the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fic
tional small Louisiana town. The series centers on Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paqui
n), a telepathic waitress at a bar, who falls in love with vampire Bill Compton
(Stephen Moyer).[1][2]
The show is broadcast on the premium cable network HBO in the United States. It
is produced by HBO in association with Ball's production company, Your Face Goes
Here Entertainment.[1] It premiered on September 7, 2008.
The first season received critical acclaim and won several awards, including one
Golden Globe and an Emmy. The show's second 12-episode season premiered on June
14, 2009. On July 30, 2009, HBO confirmed that True Blood would be renewed for
a third season,[3] which began shooting on December 3, 2009[4] and premiered on
June 13, 2010. On June 21, 2010, HBO renewed True Blood for a fourth season, to
debut in summer 2011.[5]

artery
Arteries[1] are red blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blo
od is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arter
ies.
The circulatory system is extremely important for sustaining life. Its proper fu
nctioning is responsible for the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to all cells,
as well as the removal of carbon dioxide and waste products, maintenance of opti
mum pH, and the mobility of the elements, proteins and cells of the immune syste
m. In developed countries, the two leading causes of death, myocardial infarctio
n and stroke, each may directly result from an arterial system that has been slo
wly and progressively compromised by years of deterioration. (See atherosclerosi
s).

blood substitutes
Blood substitutes (also called artificial blood or blood surrogates) are used to
fill fluid volume and/or carry oxygen and other blood gases in the cardiovascul
ar system. Although commonly used, the term is not accurate since human blood pe
rforms many important functions which blood substitutes may not. Red blood cells
transport oxygen, white blood cells defend against disease, platelets promote c
lotting, and plasma proteins perform various functions. The preferred and more a
ccurate terms are volume expanders for inert products, and oxygen therapeutics f
or oxygen-carrying products. Examples of these two "blood substitute" categories
:
* Volume expanders: inert and merely increase blood volume. These may be cry
stalloid-based (Ringer's lactate, normal saline, D5W dextrose 5% in water) or co
lloid-based (Voluven, Haemaccel, Gelofusin).
* Oxygen therapeutics: mimic human blood's oxygen transport ability. Example
s: Hemopure, Oxycyte, Oxygent, PolyHeme and Perftoran. Oxygen therapeutics are i
n turn broken into two categories based on transport mechanism: perfluorocarbon
based, and hemoglobin based.
Volume expanders are widely available and are used in both hospitals and first r
esponse situations by paramedics and emergency medical technicians. Oxygen thera
peutics are in clinical trials in the U.S. and Europe, Hemopure is available in
South Africa.