Blood System
Root Words
Snake Venom and Blood
This is where we come
in…..
Coagulation abnormalities are due directly to snake
venom interference with the coagulation cascade
Pharmacotherapy Pearls
 Minimal envenomation: Swelling, pain, and
bruising are limited to immediate bite site: no
systemic signs and symptoms
 Moderate envenomation: systemic signs and
symptoms are not life threatening (nausea,
vomiting, oral paresthesia, unusual taste, mild
hypotension, mild tachycardia, tachypnea);
 Severe envenomation: (severe alteration of mental
status, severe hypotension, severe tachycardia,
tachypnea, respiratory insufficiency); coagulation
parameters are abnormal; serious bleeding or
severe threat of bleeding.
Coagulation
- (also known as clotting) is the
process by which blood
changes from a liquid to a gel,
forming a clot.
-
Results in Hemostasis (The
stoppage of blood flow) due
to damage to blood vessels
and soft tissue
Coagulation cont…
 Blood platelets produce a protein called Thrombin, which
produces a protein fiber that binds blood together
Blood
 Connective Tissue that is essential for transporting
substances between body cells and defending the body
 Roughly 3x more viscous than water
 Men have 5-6 liters, Women have 4-5 liters
Plasma
 Yellow liquid that holds blood cells together
 Makes up about 55% of blood volume
Erythrocytes
 Red blood cells, concave discs.
 Shape allows for transportation of gases.
Hemoglobin
 Protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen
 Also plays a role in maintaining the shape of red blood
cells.
 Give the red color to blood. When oxygen is released,
results in deoxyhemoglobin, which is much darker
Oxyhemoglobin vs.
Deoxyhemoglobin
Macrophages
 “Eat” and destroy damaged red blood cells.
 Primarily in liver and speen
 Body constantly produces new cells, therefore they need
to get red of the old ones.
Leukocytes
 White blood cells that protect against disease.
 Account for less than 1% of blood volume
 Develop from red bone marrow
Function of Leukocytes
 Some Phagocytize (eat) bacteria, some produce antibodies
that destroy particles
 Can move in and out of blood vessels into other tissue
Leukemia
 Cancer of the white blood cells
 Bone marrow produce abnormal leukocytes that don’t
function properly
Thrombocytes
 Platelets that are not complete cells. They fragment off of
larger cells in the bone marrow.
 Lack a nucleus and is half the size of a erythrocyte
 Help close breaks in blood vessels and initiate blood clots
Fibrin: Fibrous protein involved with
blood clotting.
Hemostasis: The stoppage of bleeding
- Coagulation: Blood clotting
Embolus
 A clot that dislodges and breaks loose and is carried away
by the blood flow.
 Continues to flow until it reaches a narrow vessel and
lodges.
 Can be very dangerous is lodges in heart, lungs, or brain.
 Drugs can be given to “break up” the clot