Blood Course Study Guide

Blood ● Composition ○ Plasma ■ The liquid portion of blood without its cellular elements ○ Erythrocytes ■ Red blood cells ○ Leukocytes ■ White blood cells ○ Thrombocytes ■ Platelets ● Blood plasma ○ Straw-colored, complex liquid, 55% of the blood volume, and contains 6 substances: ○ Water ■ Makes up about 92% of the total amount of plasma ■ The percentage is maintained by the kidneys and by water intake/ output ○ Plasma proteins ■ Consists of three proteins: ● Fibrinogen ○ Necessary for blood clotting ○ Synthesized in the liver ○ Without it, you would bleed continuously ● Albumin ○ Most abundant of the plasma proteins ○ Another product of the liver ○ Maintains the blood’s osmotic pressure and volume ○ Holds and pulls water from the tissue into the blood vessels ● Globulin ○ Formed in the lymphatic system and the liver ○ Helps in the synthesis of antibodies ■ Destroy harmless various disease-causing organisms ○ Hematopoiesis ■ The formation of blood cells ■ Occurs in the red bone marrow ■ All blood cells develop from undifferentiated mesenchymal cells ● Known as stem cells or hemocytoblasts ● Erythrocytes ○ Erythropoiesis ■ Manufacture of red blood cells ■ Occurs in the red bone marrow in all bones ● Happens until adolescence ■ Red bone marrow is replaced with fat marrow as we grow older ○ Hemoglobin ■ A red pigment that gives cells their color ■ Made of a protein molecule called globin and an iron compound called heme ■ One blood cell contains several million molecules ■ Vital to the function of red blood cells ● Allows them to transport oxygen to the tissues and carbon dioxide away from the tissues ■ Normal amount of hemoglobin for men is 14-18g ■ Normal amount of hemoglobin for women is 12-16g per 100ml ○ CO poisoning ■ Serious and fatal condition ■ Carbon monoxide rapidly combines with hemoglobin molecules such as oxygen, crowding the oxygen out ■ The cells become deprived of oxygen ■ Symptoms include and are limited to: ● Headache, dizziness, drowsiness, and unconscious ● Death only occurs in severe cases ○ Hemolysis ■ The rupture of a red blood cell ■ Occurs as a result of a blood transfusion reaction ● Leukocytes ○ White blood cells (leukocytes) ■ Have nuclei and no pigment whatsoever ■ They are larger than erythrocytes and granular (grainy appearance) ■ Manufactured in both red bone marrow and in the lymphatic system ■ Body’s natural defense against injury, disease, infection, etc. ○ Types of leukocytes ■ Identified into 2 main groups: granulocytes and agranulocytes ● Granulocytes are made in red bone marrow from cells called myeloblasts ○ Destroyed as they age ○ Only live a few days ○ There are three types of granulocytes ■ Neutrophils ● Known as polymorphonuclear leukocytes ● Phagocytize bacteria with lysosomal enzymes ● Phagocytosis is a process that surrounds, engulfs, and digests harmful bacteria ■ Eosinophils ● Phagocytize the remains of antibody-antigen reactions ● Increase in number in allergic reactions, malaria, or worm infestations ■ Basophils ● Activated during an allergic reaction ● Produce histamine and heparin ● Inflammation ○ Occurs when tissues are subjected to chemical or physical trauma or invasion by pathogenic microorganisms ○ Characteristic symptoms include redness, local heat, swelling, and pain ○ Due to irritation by bacterial toxins, to increased blood flow, to congestion of blood vessels, and to the collection of blood plasma in the surrounding tissues ○ Histamine released from the basophil and other chemical substances increases blood flow to the injured area ○ Large amounts of blood plasma and fibrinogen enter the damaged area ■ Damaged area becomes walled off from the clotting action of fibrinogen ■ Neutrophils move very quickly to the damaged area ● Neutrophils move through the capillary walls by diapedesis and begin phagocytosis of the pathogens ○ Pus forms ● Homeostasis ○ Refers to stopping the bleeding ○ Can be accomplished by vasoconstriction ● Blood clotting (Coagulation) ○ When a blood vessel or tissue is injured, platelets and injured tissue release thromboplastin ○ Blood platelets flow over the injured area ○ Then, they disintegrate, releasing thromboplastin ○ The thromboplastin and calcium ions act as enzymes in a reaction that converts prothrombin into thrombin ■ The thrombin changes the fibrinogen into fibrin and the threads layer themselves over the cut ○ Serum oozes out of the cut ■ The serum slowly dries forming a scab ● 4 types of blood ○ A+/■ A+ can receive the blood types A+/-, O+/■ A- can receive the blood types A-, O- ○ B+/■ B+ can receive B+/-, O+/■ B- can receive B-, O○ AB+/■ AB+ is a universal recipient ■ AB+ can receive AB+/-, A+/-, B+/-, O+/■ AB- can receive AB-, A-, B-, O○ O+/■ O- is a universal donor ■ O+ can receive O+, O■ O- can receive O● RH Factor ○ Found on the surface of the red blood cells ○ People who possess it are RH+ ○ People who don’t possess it are RH● Hematocrit ○ Blood test that measures the percentage of volume of whole blood that is made up of red blood cells ○ The measurement depends on the number of red blood cells and their size ○ Normal Hct in males is 47% ○ Normal Hct in females is 42% ● Blood disorders ○ Anemia ■ Deficiency in the number or percentage of red blood cells and the amount of hemoglobin in the blood ■ Results in a large loss of blood ■ 400 types of anemia ■ Never enough oxygen transported in the cells ■ Symptoms include and are limited to dyspnea, pallor, palpitation, and fatigue ○ Iron deficiency anemia ■ Exists in women, children, and adolescents ■ Caused by a deficiency of adequate amounts of iron ■ Leads to an insufficient hemoglobin synthesis ○ Pernicious anemia ■ Form of anemia caused by the deficiency of vitamin B12 ○ Aplastic anemia ■ A disease caused by the suppression of the bone marrow ■ There are idiopathic causes and secondary ○ Sickle cell anemia ■ Chronic blood disease that is inherited from both parents ■ Red blood cells form in a abnormal crescent shape ■ Cells carry less oxygen and are easily breakable ■ Most prevalent in African Americans ○ Thalassemia ■ Inherited blood disorder that causes severe to mild anemia ○ Colley’s anemia ■ Defect in hemoglobin ■ Affects people of the Mediterranean descent ■ Iron overload ○ Polycythemia ■ Too many red blood cells are formed ■ Can be temporary at high altitudes ■ Thickening of the blood ● Makes clot formation possible ■ Treatment includes removal of 1 pint of blood and a low dose of aspirin ○ Embolism ■ Embolus is carried into the bloodstream until it reaches an artery too small for passage ■ May include air, blood clot, cancer cells, fat, bacterium, etc ○ Thrombosis ■ The formation of a blood clot in a blood vessel ○ Thrombus ■ The blood clot formed ■ Caused by low blood circulation ○ Hematoma ■ Localized clotted mass of blood found in an organ ■ Caused by traumatic injury ○ Hemophilia ■ Blood clots slowly or abnormally ○ Leukemia ■ Cancerous or malignant ■ Number of white blood cells is greatly increased ■ Interferes with the transportation of oxygen ■ Hinders the formation of new red blood cells ○ Multiple myeloma ■ Malignant neoplasm ■ Cells multiply abnormally in the bone marrow ○ Septicemia ■ Presence of pathogenic organisms in the blood