Blood Physical properties

• 8% of body weight

• Heavier than water

• 5x more viscous

• About 38o C

• pH 7.35 - 7.45

• Salty and sticky

 Blood Functions

• Transportation
– O2 and CO2

– Nutrients

– Waste

• Regulation
– pH

– Body temperature

– Fluid volume and osmolarity

 Blood Functions

• Protection
– Prevention of blood loss

– Prevention of infection
 Blood Components

• Plasma

• Formed elements
 Plasma

• Water - 90% of plasma volume

• Solutes - 8% of plasma volume

– Proteins
» Albumin
» Globulins - alpha , beta and gama
» Clotting proteins
» other
– Non protein nitrogenous waste
– Nutrients (organic)
– Electrolytes
– Respiratory gases
 Formed Elements

• Erythrocytes

• Leukocytes

• Platelets
 Unusual Features of Formed
Elements
• Erythrocytes and platelets are not “true cells”

• Most of formed elements survive in blood

stream only a few days

• Most blood cells do not divide

Formation of blood cells
 Physical Characteristics of
RBCs
• Anucleated and lack most organelles

• Small in size and biconcave

• Flexible

• Mostly a “bag” to carry hemoglobin

 Function of RBCs

• Transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide

 Erythrocytes disorders
• Anemias
– Insufficient number of RBC
» Hemorrhagic
» Hemolytic
» Aplastic

– Decreases in hemoglobin content

» Iron deficiency
» B12 deficiency (pernicicous )

– Abnormal hemoglobin
» Thalassemias
» Sickle cell

• Polycythemia
 General Characteristics of
Leukocytes
• Diapedesis - the ability of WBCs to exit the
circulatory system

• Ameboid motion - The characteristic motion

of leukocytes through tissue spaces

• Positive chemotaxis - The motion of WBCs

towards certain chemicals released by
damaged cells or other leukocytes
 WBCs Classification

• Granulocytes
– Neutrophyls
– Eosinophils
– basophils

• Agranulocytes
– Lymphocytes
» T lymphocytes
» B lymphocytes

– Monocytes
 Neutrophils
• Account for about half of all
leukocytes and are twice as big
as erythrocytes

• Take up both basic (blue) and

acidic (red) dyes resulting in
lilac color.

• Their nucleus has 3-6 lobes

resulting in polymorphonuclear
(PMNs) or Polys

• Phagocytic especially bacteria

and fungi

• Kill by respiratory burst and

defenses
 Eosinophyls
• Account for 1- 4% of
all leukocytes

• Shaped as a old
fashion telephone
receiver

• Large coarse granules

stained in red brick
color

• Most important role

fight against invasion
of parasitic worms
– Reduce allergenic
reactions by
phagocytizing allergens
 Basophyls
• Rarest of all leukocytes
about 0.5% of population

• Have large histamine

granules which stain
purplish black

• Main role in inflammatory

reaction by dilating blood
vessels and attacking
other leukocytes to the
site of inflammation
– Mast cells may be tissue
basophils
 Lymphocytes
• Second most numerous
leukocytes

• Large round deep

purple nucleus-
classified by size

• Found mainly in
lymphoid tissue

– T Lymphocytes- cell
mediated immunity

– B Lymphocytes - humoral
immunity
 Monocytes
• Largest of all
leukocytes

• Abundant gray-blue
cytoplasm and dark
blue-purple kidney
shaped nucleus

• Wonder into tissues

and become
macrophages with
prodigal appetites

• Great increase in
chronic infections
 Leukocyte Disorders

• Excessive production of leukocytes occur in

leukemias
– Cancer of white blood cells
» Usually single clone lines tend to remain
unspecialized mitotic and functionally inoperative

» their sheer number impairs bone marrow function

resulting in severe anemia, bleeding problems and
inability to mount a defense response against
infections

• Leukopenia - low white cell count

– usually drug induced, particularly glucocorticoids and
anti-cancer drugs
 Platelets (thrombocytes)

• Cytoplasmic fragments megakaryocytes

• Essential for clotting process

– Contain, serotonin, Ca+2 , a variety of enzymes, ADP,
PDGF.

• Formation controlled by thrombopoietin

 Hemostasis

• Vascular spasms

• Platelet plug formation

• Coagulation
 Vascular Spasms
• Damage of smooth muscle in
blood vessels causes a
reflexive contraction

• Release of chemicals from

injured endothelial cells and
platelets release vasoactive
chemical which cause
vasoconstriction

These mechanisms result in

reduction in blood loss

• Thought question : Would you

rather be injured by blunt or
sharp object
 Platelet Plug Formation
• Platelets adhesion- Sharp edges, release of
sticky chemical such as ADP and exposure of
collagen which is under injured epithelia

• Platelets release- Release of chemicals which

will attract more platelets and will make them
stick

• Platelet aggregation- by sending extensions

• Plug formation- fibrogen gets converted to

fibrin forms a mesh which traps formed
elements and make a plug
 Coagulation
• Phase 1 - A complex
substance called
prothrombin activator is
formed
– Two pathways extrinsic and
intrisic
» Once factor X is
activated it complexes
with tissue
thromboplastin PF3 ,
factor V and calcium ions
to form prothrombin
activator
• Phase 2 - conversion of
prothrombin to thrombin -
by the action of
prothombin
– common pathway
• Phase 3 - conversion of
fibronogen to fibrin by the
action of thrombin
– common pathway
 Human Blood Groups

• ABO blood groups

• Rh blood groups