Blood

• Cardio vascular system comprises of blood,

blood vessels, & Heart.
• The branch of Physiology dealing with blood is
called Hematology
• Blood is fluid connective tissue which transports
substances from one part of body to another
part.
• Blood connects different parts by virtue of
circulation
• Sir william Harvey was the scientist who
discovered the circulation of blood
 Characteristics of blood
• Color: Color of the blood is red. The
arterial blood is bright red and venous
blood is dark red in color
• Volume: Volume of blood present in the
body is 5-6 Liters (8% of body weight or 80
ml/kg body weight)
• Viscosity: Viscosity of blood is 5 times
more than water (thickness of any fluid
compare to water). Blood is thicker than
water
• pH of blood: pH of the blood is about 7.4
(range 7.36-7.42), slightly alkaline in
nature.
• Specific gravity of blood: Specific gravity
of blood is 1.050 – 1.060. (Relative density
of blood compare to water)
 Functions of Blood
Important function of blood is transportation
Blood acts as the transporting agent of the body
Transport Functions
 Transportation of nutrients
Blood transports nutrients from the Gastro
Intestinal Tract to various parts of the body.
Nutrients such as Carbohydrates, glucose,
amino acids, vitamins, minerals, water,
electrolytes(sodium,calcium, potassium, etc)
 Transportation of Respiratory gases:
• Blood picks up oxygen from the lungs and delivers it
the tissues of various parts of the body.
• Co2 is transported from the tissues to lungs by the
blood.
 Transportation of Hormones:
• Blood carries the hormones from the site of secretion
to site of action. Hormones are chemical substances
that regulates our activities
 Transport of Waste Products:
Blood transports various waste products
from site of production to the site of excretion,
excretory organ like kidney, lungs, GIT, Skin.
Defence/Protection function

 Phagocytosis: Neutrophils & Monocytes

engulf the Microorganisms(bacteria, fungus,
etc) entering into the body.
 Producing antibodies: Lymphocytes and
gamma globulins produce antibodies which
destroys the microorganisms. This gives the
long term protection to the body. The
mechanism is known as immunity
• Clotting/ Coagulation:
The blood shows the property of clotting/
coagulation. This minimizes the loss of
blood from the cut blood vessels. The
mechanism converts liquid blood into
semisolid.
Regulative
function/Homeostatic function
 Regulation of water balance & electrolytes:
blood regulates the water balance by the
distribution of water among the different
compartments: intracellular, extracellular
 Regualation of body tempurature:
Blood regulates body temperature by
vasodilatation & constriction of blood vessels
causes thermal energy lost or heat conserved
 Regulation of pH or acid base balance:
• pH of blood is maintained by action of
chemical buffers of blood.(maintaining co2
and oxygen balance)
• Plasma proteins and hemoglobin in the
blood help in maintain the acid base
balance & pH of blood.
• Storage function
• Blood stores substances such as glucose,
water, protein, electrolytes that body use in
emergency condition like starvation, fluid
loss, electrolyte loss