ANATOMY

Unit 3 Notes:Blood

Composition

(1) Blood• Purpose:

Transport nutrients and waste throughout the body to their designated locations.

• Contains living and nonliving components:– Living = Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells– Nonliving = Platelets, Proteins, Plasma,

Inorganic Compounds

(2) Blood Cells & Parts• Red Blood Cells = Erythrocytes

– Carry oxygen-containing gases – Use protein hemoglobin to bind with gases

• White Blood Cells = Leukocytes– Part of Immune System– Protect body against infectious agents

• Platelets– Fragments of red blood cells– Aid in clotting

(3) Plasma• The liquid portion of blood.

• Made of mostly water, and various proteins and inorganic compounds (like salts and sugars).

• Important Plasma Proteins:– Albumin Regulates osmotic pressure within

blood.– Fibrinogen and Globulin Aids in clotting.

(4) White Blood Cell Specialties

• White blood cells must be able to reach any area in body with infection.

• Leukocytes use:– Positive Chemotaxis To locate infectious

agents within body using the antibody-antigen response system.

– Diapedesis To travel through organs to reach the infectious agents.

(5) Types of White Blood Cells

• Neutrophils:– The most common and active.– First to respond to an infection site.

• Basophils:– Release histamine during infection.– Histamine dilates the blood vessels to increase

blood flow.

• Lymphocytes: Use antibodies and antigens.– B Lymphocytes Produce antibodies to ID

foreign cells.– T Lymphocytes Respond to antibodies and

find foreign cells.

• Monocytes:– Present during chronic infection.– A last responder when other white blood cells

did not work.

• Eosinophils:– Attack and engulf larger parasitic organisms.

(6) Anemia

• Anemia is when oxygen is not being carried to tissues.

• Causes for Anemia:– Misshapen red blood cells– Low hemoglobin concentration– Low blood cell count– General lack of oxygen in system

• Symptoms:– Excruciating pains throughout the body.– Extreme fatigue.– Low endurance during physical activity.– Loss of body heat easily.

• Sickle Cell Anemia:– Red blood cells are sickled shaped.– Cannot bind with oxygen and often clog up

blood vessels.

• Hereditary Spherocytosis:– Red blood cells balloon out like basketballs.– Cannot bind with oxygen and are destroyed by

the spleen.