BLOOD

BLOOD
 circulatory fluid of the body
 a viscous, slightly alkaline fluid

Functions:
1. to convey food materials to body cells and remove waste products from them
2. to carry oxygen for oxidation of foodstuffs and remove CO2 resulting from such
oxidation
3. to transport internal secretions (hormones) and vitamins for control of the activities of
the body
4. to aid in maintaining proper pH, water content and temperature of tissues
5. to assist in the body’s defense against disease by means of antitoxins or leukocytes
6. to transport metabolic wastes to the kidneys, lungs, skin and intestines for removal
(excretion)

CONSTITUENTS OF THE BLOOD

1. FORMED ELEMENTS

A. Erythrocytes – (red blood cells)

- Functions: to carry oxygen from the lungs to the cells
: they also remove CO2 from the cells and carry it to the lungs
- contains Hb
- formed in the bone marrow
B. Leukocytes (white blood cells)
- Functions: aid in the body’s defense against bacteria
: act as phagocytes,m engulfing & destroying harmful microorganisms
- WBC count rises sharply in acute infections; in leukemia – excessive increase
C. Thrombocytes (blood platelets)
- Functions: important in blood coagulation
: contain cephalin – a phospholipids involved in the early stages of clotting

2. SERUM – When blood clots, the formed elements or corpuscles are enmeshed in the
threadlike mass of the insoluble fibrin. The clot, on standing, exudes serum, a clear yellow
liquid, SERUM IS THUS PLASMA WITHOUT FIBRINOGEN.

3. PLASMA
- clear fluid portion of the blood
- comprises 55% of the volume of blood
(92% of H2O and 8% of solids)

 PLASMA PROTEINS:
a. Serum albumin – is essential in maintaining normal osmotic pressure and therefore the
water balance of the body. A deficiency of serum albumin causes excessive passage of
water from the blood vessels into the surrounding tissues, producing edema

b. Serum globulins – consist of alpha, beta and gamma globulins. Gamma globulin contains
most of the antibodies and antitoxins the body uses to combat infection

c. Fibrinogen – is concerned with the clotting of the blood

HEMOGLOBIN
- made up of 4 molecules of the iron-containing heme (red pigment conjugated with
one molecule of the protein globin ( a CHON histone)
 -similar to chlorophyll (bluish green pigment in plants)
Hb - contains iron
Chlorophyll - contains Mg

HEME – composed of 4 pyrrole rings

- its mother substance is porphyrin
Hb is colored purple when not exposed to air

STRUCTURE:

Heme Heme

Globin

Heme Heme

DERIVATIVES OF Hb

1. Oxyhemoglobin (HbO2)

- Hb + O2 → HbO2
(ferrousheme + CO globin)
- color : scarlet
- unstable

2. Carboxyhemoglobin

- HbO2 + CO → carboxyhemoglobin
( ferrousheme + CO globin)
- color : bluish red
- more stable than HBO2

3. Methemoglobin

- HbO2 + Fe(CN)6 → methemoglobin

( ferricheme + ferricyanide + globin)
- color: brown

PATHOLOGY:

ANEMIA – is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or the amount of hemoglobin is
below normal. It may result from: anyone of the following:

1. Hemorrhage
2. Deficiency of iron (iron deficiency anemia or nutritional anemia)
3. Deficiency of folic acid (macrocytic anemia of infancy and pregnancy)
4. Lack of the intrinsic factor or deficiency of vitamin B12, resulting in lowered activity of
the blood-producing tissues (pernicious anemia)
5. Abnormal destruction of red cells (hemolytic anemia)
6. Destruction of bone marrow by chemicals, drugs or radiation (aplastic anemia)
7. Abnormal hemoglobins such as those causing sickle-cell anemia and thalassema.
COAGULATION OF BLOOD

The generally accepted theory of the blood clotting mechanism is as follows:

1. The enzyme THROMBIN is formed from its inactive form. PROTHROMBIN, by the aid
of thromboplastin and calcium ions. Thromboplastin – is a cephalin-protein substance
released from the thrombocytes and injured tissue cells when blood is shed

Thromboplastin
Prothrombin ------------------------ Thrombin
Ca+2

2. The thrombin, by enzyme action, converts FIBRINOGEN – a soluble plasma protein to

FIBRIN – the clot

Thrombin
Fibrinogen ---------------------- Fibrin