- \n
- Helps fights infection<\/b><\/li>\n
- Regulates body temperature<\/li>\n
- Transports nutrients, O2, metabolic wastes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Made up of three kinds of cells transported in extracellular fluid called plasma.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mrpletsch\/files\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-10-at-8.06.49-AM.png\")
Figure 1: Formed elements in blood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Approximately 55% of the blood plasma<\/b> the remaining 45% is composed of blood cells<\/p>\n
If blood is allowed to sit in a test tube without clotting, it will divide into two main parts: plasma<\/b> and formed elements (blood cells)<\/b><\/p>\n
Hematocrit<\/span> <\/b>– Ratio of red blood cells to total volume of blood (normal = 45% RBC)<\/b><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mrpletsch\/files\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-10-at-8.08.05-AM.png\")
Figure 2: Hematocrit comparison<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Plasma<\/h5>\n
Plasma is ~90% water<\/b>. <\/i><\/b>Ions, nutrients, waste, and proteins are also present. Two groups of plasma proteins to know:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
- \n
- Globulins<\/span> (proteins made by the liver) help with antibody defense <\/i><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Fibrinogens<\/b><\/span> are important in blood clotting <\/b>(converted by platelets to fibrin during injury which closes damaged blood vessels)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mrpletsch\/files\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-10-at-8.10.05-AM.png\")
Figure 3: Blood composition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes)<\/h5>\n
Red blood Cells (Erythrocytes) are continuously made in the bone marrow.<\/b><\/p>\n
Structure:<\/span> <\/b><\/p>\n
- \n
- Biconcave disk with no nucleus <\/b><\/li>\n
- Have \u201cmarkers\u201d called <\/b>antigens<\/b> on surface.<\/b><\/li>\n
- Unique protein (<\/b>hemoglobin<\/b>) in cytoplasm<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mrpletsch\/files\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-10-at-8.12.50-AM.png\")
Figure 4: Erythrocytes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Function:<\/b><\/p>\n
- \n
- Primary function of erythrocytes is the transport of oxygen.<\/li>\n
- The presence of hemoglobin in RBCs increases the ability of the blood to carry oxygen by a factor of almost 70.<\/li>\n
- Without a nucleus, RBCs cannot perform many cell functions therefore they have a short (120 day) life span<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mrpletsch\/files\/2019\/01\/h9992502_001.jpg\")
Figure 5: Role of hemoglobin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Now that we know the function of erythrocytes, What issues could arise from a <\/i>lowered hematocrit?<\/i><\/h4>\n
Anemia is a condition where blood lacks healthy erythrocytes or hemoglobin<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
- \n
- This leads to a lack of oxygen being transported around the body.<\/li>\n
- 5.6% of North Americans suffer from one of the 400 types of anemia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The most common type is iron-deficiency anemia<\/b> (iron is needed to produce hemoglobin)<\/p>\n
Symptoms:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
- \n
- Chest pain, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath<\/li>\n
- Headache, dizziness or lightheadedness<\/li>\n
- Extreme fatigue<\/li>\n
- Weakness<\/li>\n
- Pale skin<\/li>\n
- Cold hands and feet<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mrpletsch\/files\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-10-at-8.17.30-AM.png\")
Figure 6: Blood smear comparisons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n White Blood Cells – Leukocytes<\/h5>\n
White blood cells (Leukocytes) are made in the bone marrow (like all blood cells). Larger and less numerous than RBCs.<\/p>\n
Structure:<\/b><\/p>\n
- \n
- Many distinct types. All have a nucleus (making them easy to identify compared to RBCs<\/b>)<\/b><\/li>\n
- The shape and size of the nucleus, along with the granules<\/i><\/b> in the cytoplasm are used to identify different leukocytes<\/b>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mrpletsch\/files\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-10-at-8.19.02-AM.png\")
Figure 7: Components of blood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n We can break white blood cells into two basic groups based on the presence of granule<\/strong> (visible small particles in the cytoplasm – ex. secretory vesicles) These groups are granulocytes<\/strong> and agranulocytes<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mrpletsch\/files\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-10-at-8.19.41-AM.png\")
Figure 8: Agranulocytes vs Granulocytes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Granulocytes<\/b> – Contains granules<\/b> (small particles) in the cytoplasm – usually secretory vesicles or components that can lead to helpful immune responses (i.e. the Natural Killer Granulocyte contains components that lead to lysis of target cells)<\/i><\/p>\n
- \n
- Usually multi-lobed nucleus<\/li>\n
- ex. Neutrophil (the most common white blood cell), Eosinophil, Basophil.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Agranulocytes<\/b> – No conspicuous granules in cytoplasm. Have specific roles in the immune response.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Single nucleus<\/li>\n
- ex. Monocytes (macrophages when in tissue) and lymphocytes\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mrpletsch\/files\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-10-at-8.22.47-AM.png\")
Figure 9: White blood cell identification<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Two types of <\/i><\/b>leukocytes<\/i><\/b> to know (both are agranulocytes):
\n<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n- \n
- Monocytes (macrophage)<\/b> fight off bacteria, viruses and fungi.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- \n
- Monocytes are the biggest type of leukocyte<\/li>\n
- Monocytes \u201ceat\u201d foreign particles through phago<\/i>cyt<\/i>osis<\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Phagocytosis:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Once the microbe has been engulfed, the leukocyte releases enzymes that digest the microbe and the leukocyte itself.<\/p>\n
Fragments of remaining from the white blood cell and invader are called pus.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mrpletsch\/files\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-10-at-11.54.03-AM.png\")
Figure 11: Process of phagocytosis in leukocytes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n - \n
- <\/b>Lymphocytes<\/b> produce antibodies<\/b> in response to invading pathogens.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- \n
- Antibodies are very specific proteins that attach to invading pathogens.<\/b><\/li>\n
- Antibodies bind to pathogens and cause them to agglutinate (clump together)<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Platelets<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n
Platelets (<\/b>thrombocytes<\/b>) are small, fragile cell fragments<\/span> involved with the blood clotting response.<\/b><\/p>\n
Structure:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- No nucleus<\/b>.<\/li>\n
- Smallest of the blood cells<\/li>\n
- Shaped like a \u201cplate\u201d<\/li>\n
- Contain the enzyme thromboplastin<\/b> – which catalyzes the reaction of the protein prothrombin to thrombin (needs Ca2+)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mrpletsch\/files\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-10-at-11.56.57-AM.png\")
Figure 12: Plates and activated platelets (blood clotting process)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Formation of Blood Clots<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n
- \n
- Circulating platelets <\/b>rub against a rough edge of damaged blood vessel and release thromboplastin<\/b>.<\/li>\n
- Thromboplastin<\/b> catalyzes the conversion from prothrombin<\/b> into <\/b>thrombin<\/b> (needs Ca<\/i><\/b>2+)<\/i><\/b><\/li>\n
- Thrombin converts fibrinogen (glycoprotein) into fibrin.<\/b><\/li>\n
- Fibrin<\/b> is insoluble<\/b> – this causes it to trap blood cells and create a clot.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mrpletsch\/files\/2019\/01\/Screen-Shot-2019-01-10-at-11.59.23-AM.png\")
Figure 13: Blood clotting conversions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mrpletsch\/files\/2019\/01\/DFNz0A.gif\")
Blood Clotting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Blood Cell Summary<\/h5>\n
<\/p>\n
- \n
- Plasma is the extracellular fluid which blood cells, proteins, nutrients, waste circulate in (90% water)<\/b><\/li>\n
- Three types of blood cells <\/b>(formed elements – 45% of blood):<\/b>\n
- \n
- Erythrocytes – No Nucleus, biconcave disk. Carries oxygen.
\n<\/i><\/li>\n- Leukocytes – Nucleus, amoebic (irregular shape) Immune response.
\n<\/i><\/li>\n- Thrombocytes – Cell fragments. Blood clotting.
\n<\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n- Lower RBC\/hemoglobin count = Anemia<\/b> which leads to fatigue (Affects 5.6% of North Americans)<\/li>\n
- Sickle-Cell anemia<\/b> is a genetic disorder that causes sickle-shaped RBCs<\/b> that struggle to transport oxygen (From lab)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Leukocytes – Nucleus, amoebic (irregular shape) Immune response.
- Three types of blood cells <\/b>(formed elements – 45% of blood):<\/b>\n
- Thromboplastin<\/b> catalyzes the conversion from prothrombin<\/b> into <\/b>thrombin<\/b> (needs Ca<\/i><\/b>2+)<\/i><\/b><\/li>\n
- Antibodies bind to pathogens and cause them to agglutinate (clump together)<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Antibodies are very specific proteins that attach to invading pathogens.<\/b><\/li>\n
- <\/b>Lymphocytes<\/b> produce antibodies<\/b> in response to invading pathogens.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Monocytes (macrophage)<\/b> fight off bacteria, viruses and fungi.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- The shape and size of the nucleus, along with the granules<\/i><\/b> in the cytoplasm are used to identify different leukocytes<\/b>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Many distinct types. All have a nucleus (making them easy to identify compared to RBCs<\/b>)<\/b><\/li>\n
- Have \u201cmarkers\u201d called <\/b>antigens<\/b> on surface.<\/b><\/li>\n
- Biconcave disk with no nucleus <\/b><\/li>\n
- Fibrinogens<\/b><\/span> are important in blood clotting <\/b>(converted by platelets to fibrin during injury which closes damaged blood vessels)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n