Blood &
Circulation
Unit 10
Introduction
Blood is the primary
transportation fluid of the
body. Two of its most
important functions are
transportation and
protection.
Blood Composition
Blood is a fluid tissue that
has many chemicals
dissolved in it and millions
upon millions of cells
floating in it.
Blood Composition
Blood – Mostly made of
water. The body’s cells
depend on food, oxygen &
salt delivered through the
circulatory system for
survival.
Blood Composition
Blood – The average adults
has approximately 6 liters
of blood in their body.
(7%-9% of total body wt.)
Blood Composition
Blood is made of two
components:
1.Plasma – liquid part
2.Formed Elements – cells
& cell fragments
Blood Composition
Plasma - Plasma Proteins
Albumins – thickens blood
Globulins – protects us from
infections
Fibrinogen – needed for
blood to clot
Blood Composition
Plasma - Serum
Contains antibodies which
can be used to treat
patients with specific
antigens.
Blood Composition
Plasma - Serum
Antibody – substance that
destroys or deactivates a
foreign matter (antigen)
that attacks the body
Blood Composition
Formed Elements – 3 Kinds
Red Blood Cells – RBC
(erythrocytes)
White Blood Cells – WBC
(leukocytes)
Platelets - Thrombocytes
Blood Composition
Formed Elements –
Red Blood Cells – RBC
Functions:
1.Transports CO2 from cells
to lungs.
2.Transports O2 from lungs
to cells.
Blood Composition
Oxygen – carried in red
blood cells as
oxyhemoglobin.
Wastes - dissolved in the
blood and carried to
excretory organs.
Blood Composition
Every second there are
approximately 2 million
RBC’s produced by the
body.
How happy are they Jimmy?
Happier than an oxygenated
red blood cell!
Blood Composition
Formed Elements –
White Blood Cells – WBC
Function:
1.Defend body from
microorganisms that
invade tissues or
bloodstream
Blood Composition
Formed Elements –
White Blood Cells – WBC
2.Phagocytosis – process by
which phagocytes ingest
and digest foreign matter
attacking cells/tissues
Blood Composition
Formed Elements –
White Blood Cells – WBC
3.Provide immunity from
certain infections/diseases
(antibodies)
Blood Composition
Formed Elements –
White Blood Cells – WBC
Types:
1.Granular – granules in
their cytoplasm
2.Nongrannular – no
granules in cytoplasm
Blood Composition
Formed Elements –
Platelets – Thrombocytes
Function:
1.Essential for blood
clotting
Platelet
Blood Composition
Formed Elements –
Platelets – Thrombocytes
Vitamin K stimulates liver
cells to produce prothrombin
(blood protein) which causes
faster clotting.
Blood Composition
Formed Elements –
Platelets – Thrombocytes
Vitamin K Food Sources:
fruits, vegetables
Blood Composition
Formed Elements –
Platelets – Thrombocytes
Clot Formation
Platelets turn sticky to start
forming clot, fibrinogen (plasma
protein) is combined with
thrombin (protein) forming fibrin
Blood Composition
Formed Elements –
Platelets – Thrombocytes
Fibrin
A fibrous gel made of what
appears to be a tangle of fine
threads. RBC’s are in the
tangle.
Fibrin
Blood Composition
Normal Values (per cubic mm)
RBC’s - 4.2-5.8 Million
WBC’s – 5-9 Thousand
Platelets – 250-400 Thousand
Blood Types
ABO System
Four different blood types:
Type A
Type B
Type AB
Type O
Blood Types
ABO System
Blood types are determined by
the antigen present in the RBC’s
of the person’s blood at birth.
The person can only accept
blood with compatible
antigen.
Blood Types
Blood Type
Antigen
Type A
“A” Antigen
Type B
“B” Antigen
Type AB
“A” & “B”
Antigens
Type O
No Antigens
Blood Types
ABO System
Type O Universal Donor
Type AB Universal Recipient
Blood Types
Rh System
Rh Positive – RBC’s contain
additional antigen called Rh
(First discovered in Rhesus monkeys)
Rh Negative – Rh Antigen
does not exist
Blood Types
Blood Type
Antigen
A+
“A” Antigen
Rh Antigen
A-
“A” Antigen
B+
“B” Antigen
Rh Antigen
B-
“B” Antigen
Blood Types
Blood Type
Antigen
AB+
“AB” Antigen
Rh Antigen
AB-
“AB” Antigen
O+
No Antigens
Rh Antigen
O-
No Antigens
Blood Types
ABO System
Type O- Universal Donor
Type AB+ Universal
Recipient
Blood Disorders
Erythroblastosis Fetalis
Baby from Rh Positive father
and Rh Negative mother
inherits the Rh Positive
antigen from father. Mother’s
body creates antibodies
against baby’s Rh+ blood.
Blood Disorders
Erythroblastosis Fetalis
The FIRST baby born is not
affected. This condition is a
danger to future pregnancies
if the mother is not treated
upon delivering the first baby.
Blood Disorders
Erythroblastosis Fetalis
Treatment – RhoGam
Blood protein given by way of
injection to mother upon
delivery of first baby.
Blood Disorders
Erythroblastosis Fetalis
Treatment – RhoGam
Stops the mother’s body from
forming anti-Rh antibodies
preventing harm to next Rh
positive baby.
Blood Disorders
Anemia
The inability of blood to carry
sufficient oxygen to the body
cells due to decreased RBC’s.
Causes: Trauma, Ulcers,
Radiation, Infection
Blood Disorders
Polycythemia
The thickening of blood
caused by an overproduction
of RBC’s in bone marrow.
Can actually be too thick to
flow properly.
Blood Disorders
Sickle Cell Anemia
Severe, sometimes fatal
hereditary disease. When O2
is low in these patients,
crystals form causing RBC’s
to become deformed.
Blood Disorders
Sickle Cell Anemia
A drug called hydroxyurea
has been shown to help
reduce symptoms and even
prevent sickle cell crisis.
Blood Disorders
Leukopenia
Abnormally low WBC count.
(under 5000/cubic mm)
AIDS is one example of a
cause of leukopenia
Blood Composition
Normal Values (per cubic mm)
RBC’s - 4.2-5.8 Million
WBC’s – 5-9 Thousand
Platelets – 250-400 Thousand
Blood Disorders
Leukocytosis
Abnormally high WBC count.
(over 10,000/cubic mm)
More common than
leukopenia and usually
associated with infections.
Blood Disorders
Leukemia
Malignant high WBC count.
(can be > 30,000/cubic mm)
“Blood Cancer”
The WBC’s do not function
properly. Body not able to
effectively defend self.
Blood Disorders
Thrombus
Stationary blood clot.
Blood Disorders
Embolus
Clot which moves throughout
bloodstream.
Blood Disorders
Hemophelia
Inherited disorder. Failure of
the body to form clotting
factors
VIII, IX or XI
Blood Disorders
Hemophelia
Treatment: Extraction of
these factors from donated
blood.
(purified to decrease chances of
transmitting viral diseases – HIV)
End Of Lecture