26: Blood – physiology and functions.

Composition and Volume of Blood

Erythrocytes
(RBCs) 99%
- millions -
cellular part
45% Leukocytes
- thousands -
whole blood ( 4- 6l )
Thrombocytes
(Platelets)
blood plasma
- 100. thousands -
55%
water
90%

dry residue;
plasma proteins
10%

Functions of Blood Circulation

1. Signal Transduction (hormons)
2. Transport of Oxygen and Carbon dioxide, nutrients, metabolic products
3. Regulation of temperature
4. Protection ( clotting factors, antibodies…)
5. pH-Buffer
Regulation of Blood Circulation
- regulation of blood flow to the tissues is according to its need to save blood volume;
regulated to the lowest possible level
- each tissue is provided according to the metabolic activity (active muscle will have a
higher blood flow than resting muscle)
- individual blood supply to the cells changes while cardiac output stays the same
- Acute Control: if metabolism increases -> blood flow will increase within seconds,
whenever oxygenation decreases, blood flow will increase
o Vasodilator Theory: low oxygen due to high metabolism leads to high number of
vasodilators ( carbon dioxide, adenosine, lactic acid, histamine…), which will be
released in the blood flow
o Oxygen Demand Theory: lack of oxygen and blood dilates blood vessels naturally
in smooth muscles tissue, because smooth muscle cells contract in the presence
of oxygen (less popular theory)
Plasma Composition
- 90% water and 10% dry residue
- Dry residue: lipids, carbohydrates, electrolytes, proteins, enzymes <- neg. electrical
charge
- Osmotic pressure in plasma is an indicator for the concentration of the substances
dissolved in plasma ( 280-295 mosmol/kg)
- Colloid Osmotic Pressure (Oncotic pressure) is the pressure only due to proteins in the
plasma ( 25 mmHg )
- Plasmaproteins: 60% albumins, 40% Globulins (α1 4%; α2 8%; β12%; γ 16%)
- Functions of Plasmaproteins: humoral immune defense
- albumines are the lightest proteins, main function is to maintain osmotic pressure
- globulins transport insoluble components (lipids), are manufactures in the liver, main
carriers for antibodies

Hematocrit
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑠
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑
- Values: men 0.40-0.54 l*l^-1 ; women 0.37-0.44 l*l^-1
- Indicator for the bloods capability to transport blood and various diseases
- Blood in different organs has a different haematocrit ( lower in brain and kidney than in
spleen)
- High levels: dehydration, sleeping apnea
- Low Levels: deficiency in erythropoiesis

Blood Reservoirs
- relaxed veins (usually hold 50-80% of the entire blood)
- spleen; can decrease in size sufficiently to release 100ml extra
- sinuses of the liver; can release several hundred mls
- large abdominal veins; release 300 ml
- venous plexuses underneath the skin; several hundred millilitres
- lung and heart