Blood

 Blood is a fluid connective tissue that consists of plasma, blood cells and platelets.
 It circulates throughout our body delivering oxygen and nutrients to various cells and tissues.
 Females have around 4-5 litres, while males have around 5-6 litres. This difference is mainly due to the differences in
body size between men and women.
 Approximately 8% of an adult’s body weight is made up of blood.
 It has a pH of 7.35-7.45, making it slightly basic.
 Blood in the arteries is a brighter red than blood in the veins because of the higher levels of oxygen found in the arteries.
Functions of blood
Blood has three main functions: transport, protection and regulation.
Transport
Blood transports the following substances:
 Gases, namely oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2), between the lungs and rest of the body
 Nutrients from the digestive tract and storage sites to the rest of the body
 Waste products to be detoxified or removed by the liver and kidneys
 Hormones from the glands in which they are produced to their target cells
 Heat to the skin so as to help regulate body temperature
Protection
Blood has several roles in inflammation:
 Leukocytes, or white blood cells, destroy invading microorganisms and cancer cells
 Antibodies and other proteins destroy pathogenic substances
 Platelet factors initiate blood clotting and help minimize blood loss
Regulation
Blood helps regulate:
 pH by interacting with acids and bases
 Water balance by transferring water to and from tissues
 Composition of blood
Blood is classified as a connective tissue and consists of two main components:

1. Plasma, which is a pale yellow liquid (55)

2. Formed elements, which are made up of the blood cells and platelets (45)
Formed elements are:
 Erythrocytes, also known as red blood cells (RBCs)

 Leukocytes, also known as white blood cells (WBCs)

 Platelets
 Blood plasma
Blood plasma is a mixture of proteins, enzymes, nutrients, wastes, hormones and gases
The plasma is about 90%, percent water, with the remaining 10% percent made up of ions, proteins, nutrients,
wastes, and dissolved gases. The ions, proteins, and other molecules found in plasma are important for
maintaining blood pH
 Blood cells and their functions
There are three types of blood cells. They are:

1. Red blood cells (Erythrocytes)

2. White blood cells (Leukocytes)
3. Platelets (Thrombocytes)
1. Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes)
 Most abundant cells in the blood
 Account for approximately 40 to 45 percent of the blood.
 Biconcave disc which is round and flat, sort of like a shallow bowl.
 They have a thick rim and a thin sunken center.
 Nucleus Absent.
 Diameter is less than 0.01mm.
 Elastic and squeeze
 Quantity is 5000000 cubic mm of blood.
 Production of RBCs is controlled by bone marrow.
 Destroyed in spleen or liver
 RBC contains hemoglobin.
 The iron found in hemoglobin gives the blood its red color.
 Life span of 120 days or 3 to 4 months.

Functions
1. Transport oxygen from the lungs to the cells of the body.
2. Pick up carbon dioxide from other tissues and unload it in the lungs.
2. White Blood Cells (Leukocytes)
 WBCs are colorless.
 Do not contain hemoglobin.
 And irregular in shape.
 Contain nucleus.
 Life span is few days or 1to 3 days.
 Larger than RBCs.
 Account for only about 1% of the blood.
 Quantity is 5000-10,000/mm3
 They are the cells that make up the majority of the immune system.
 It is the part of the body that protects itself against foreign substances and various types of infections.
 They are made in the bone marrow.
 They exist in all parts of the body, including the connective tissue, lymph system, and the bloodstream.

There are 2 main kinds of WBCs

 Lymphocytes
 Phagocytes
Lymphocytes
 Small rounded cells
 Larger rounded nucleus is Present
 Produced by lymph gland
 Small non-granular cytoplasm
Functions
 Produce antibodies
 Fight with foreign substances. Pathogens.
 Phagocytes
 Produced by bone marrow.
 Largest of the types of white blood cells
 Kidney shaped nucleus present.
 Large granular cytoplasm is present
Functions
 Kill the pathogens by engulfing them and then kill them
3. Platelets (Thrombocytes)
 Nucleus Absent.
 Small fragments of bone marrow cells.
Functions
 platelets producing a protein, this protein will change the fibrinogen (another soluble protein in the
plasma) to insoluble fibrin. The fibrin forms long fibres that clot together blocking the cut, thus preventing
any bleeding, this is called blood clotting.