Chapter 10 Objectives
Blood is the "river of life" that surges within
us. It transports everything that must be
carried from one place to another within the
body-nutrients, wastes (headed for
elimination from the body), and body heatthrough blood vessels. For centuries, long
before modern medicine, people recognized
that blood was vital (some believed
"magical"), and its loss was always
considered to be a possible cause of death.
In this chapter, we consider the composition
and function of this life-sustaining fluid. The
means by which it is propelled throughout
the body is discussed in Chapter 11.
Objective Checklist
Composition and Functions of Blood

Indicate the composition and volume of whole blood.

Describe the composition of plasma and discuss its importance in the body.

List the cell types making up the formed elements and describe the major
functions of each type.

Define anemia, polycythemia, leucopenia, andleukocytosis, and list possible

causes for each condition.
Explain the role of the hemocytoblast.
Hemostasis

Describe the blood-clotting process.

Name some factors that may inhibit or enhance the blood-clotting process.
Blood Groups and Transfusions

Describe the ABO and Rh blood groups.

Explain the basis for a transfusion reaction.
Developmental Aspects of Blood


Explain the basis of physiologic jaundice seen in some newborn babies.
Indicate blood disorders that increase in frequency in the aged.
Chapter 10: Blood (add
more space for formed
elements objective on
notes sheet for students!
Composition and Functions
of Blood


Describe the composition
and volume of whole
blood.
Describe the composition
of plasma and discuss
its importance in the body.



List the cell types making
up the formed elements
and describe the major
functions of each type.
Define anemia,
polycythemia, leukopenia,
and
leukocytosis, and list the
possible causes for each
condition.
Explain the role of the
hemocytoblast.
Hemostasis


Describe the blood-clotting
process.
Name some factors that
may inhibit
or enhance the bloodclotting process.
Blood Groups and
Transfusions


Describe the ABO and Rh
blood groups.
Explain the basis for a
transfusion reaction.
Developmental Aspects of
Blood


Explain the basis of
physiological jaundice
seen in some newborn
babies.
Indicate blood disorders
that increase in
frequency in the aged.
Chapter 10: Blood
Composition and Functions
of Blood

Describe the composition
and volume of whole
blood.
Blood is 55% plasma (water,
salts, proteins, nutrients,
wastes, gases and hormones)
and 45% Formed elements
(erythrocytes, leukocytes and
platelets)
Less than 1% is leukocytes
and platelets.
Hematocrit is the 45%
erythrocyte part.
Blood is 5 times thicker than
water, slightly alkaline (pH
between 7.35 and 7.45) and
warmer than the body (38°C
or 100.4°F) (pH is restored
via respiration and kidneys)
Normal blood volume is 5-6
L.

Describe the composition
of plasma and discuss its
importance in the body.
Plasma is 90% water.
Plasma contains proteins
(albumen for osmotic
pressure, fibrinogen for
clotting, and globulins for
defense and lipid transport).
These are created mostly in
the liver.
Various salts are found in
plasma including Na+, K+,
Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, HCO3-.
They help maintain osmotic
pressure, pH, and regulate
membrane permeability.
Other substances are
transported by blood:
glucose, fatty acids, vitamins,
amino acids, wastes (urea,
uric acid), oxygen, carbon
dioxide, and hormones

List the cell types making
up the formed elements
and describe the major
functions of each type.
Cell types Function
Erythrocytes Carry oxygen
(RBC’s)
attached to
hemoglobin (1218g/100ml)
About 5 million
/mm3
Leukocytes 4-11
thousand/mm3
defense against
Platelets
allergies, foreign
matter,
infection,immune
response, viral
attack,
250-500
thousand/mm3
aid clotting
Specific leukocytes
Leukocytes
Function
Granulocytes
Neutrophils 3-7
thousand/mm3;
phagocytic,
increase with
acute
infections
Eosinophils
Basophils
100-400/mm3;
kill parasites,
aid in allergic
reactions,
reduce
inflammation
20-50/mm3;
contain
histamine
(vasodilator)
Agranulocytes 15003000/mm3;
Lymphocytes B’s produce
antibodies, T’s
are involved in
graft rejection,
fighting tumors
and viruses,
activate B’s
monocytes
100-700/mm3;
phagocytes
turn to
macrophages
in tissues,
clean-up crew;
involved in
chronic
infections

Define anemia,
polycythemia, leukopenia,
and leukocytosis, and list
the possible causes for
each condition.
Anemia is a decrease in
oxygen-carrying ability;
resulting from low
hemoglobin or low RBC
count.
Polycythemia is excess
RBC’s from cancer, living at
high altitude, etc.
Leukopenia is low WBC
count caused by medications
Leukocytosis is high WBC
count (above 11000/mm3)
caused by bacterial or viral
infection.

Explain the role of the
hemocytoblast.
A hemocytoblast is a blood
cell/platelet stem cell in the
red bone marrow. It can
form myeloid stem cells
which later form RBC’s,
platelets, monocytes,
neutrophils, eosinophils or
basophils or lymphoid stem
cells forming lymphocytes.
Hemostasis

Describe the blood-clotting
process.
Platelets stick to the collagen
in the wound; they release
chemicals to attract more
platelets and form branches,
They release serotonin
causing the blood vessels to
spasm and constrict, aiding
clotting; Thromboplastin is
released, reacting with PF3
and other factors and Ca ions
to trigger clotting;
Prothrombin changes to
thrombin, attaching to
fibrinogen proteins to form
fibrin and mesh that traps
RBC’s to form the dark clot.
Serum or plasma is released
as the clot retracts.

Name some factors that
may inhibit or enhance the
blood-clotting process.
Factors include anything that
roughens the endothelium of
vessels. This may be burns,
blows, or fatty material.
Blood pooling increases clot
risks. Excess use of aspirin,
heparin, dicumarol, etc. may
cause thinning of the blood,
decreasing clotting ability.
Blood Groups and
Transfusions

Describe the ABO and Rh
blood groups.
There are 4 blood types: A,
B, AB, O
In addition, each blood type
may be Rh+ or Rh-, an
antigen traced to Rhesus
monkeys.
AB is the universal recipient
and O is the universal donor.
The blood type indicates the
antigens present.

Explain the basis for a
transfusion reaction.
A transfusion reaction occurs
when antibodies attack
antigens different from the
blood type, causing
agglutination, or clotting.
For instance, Type A blood
contains Anti-B antibodies.
If injected in a type B or AB
person, the antibodies will
attack the B antigens on the
recipient blood cells, causing
agglutination.
Developmental Aspects of
Blood

Explain the basis of
physiological jaundice
seen in some newborn
babies.
Newborns experience
jaundice when fetal blood
cell counts fall and new
RBC’s have not caught up
with the demand. The fetal
liver cannot keep up with
hemoglobin breakdown
products in the bile, so the
infant becomes jaundiced, or
yellowish.

Indicate blood disorders
that increase in frequency
in the aged.
Older adults may suffer from
the following disorders:
Leukemia – cancer of the
blood
Anemia – pernicious
anemia caused by stomach
mucosa atrophy.
Heart disease, blood vessel
problems, and immune
system problems, including
atherosclerosis,
arteriosclerosis.