Blood

Overview… Blah…• What it is• Structures & Functions• Parts of blood

– Red blood cells– White blood cells– Plasma– Platelets– Lymph

• Blood Type and Rh Factor• Blood Extras…

– Blood Donation– Infection– Blood-doping

Blood – What it is?...

• Specialized fluid in the body.• Delivers necessary substances.

– Nutrients– Oxygen

• Removes waste products from cells.– Carbon dioxide– Cell waste

Parts of the Blood

Structures & Functions of BloodStructure Red Blood

CellsWhite Blood Cells

Platelets Plasma

Function Gas Transport

Immune response

Clotting Nutrient & waste transport

Red Blood Cells

• A.k.a. Erthrocytes (“red” & “cell”)• Deliver oxygen & remove carbon dioxide

and other waste.• Red because it contains hemoglobin which

binds oxygen. Bluer when oxygen-poor.• Made in bone marrow in humans.

– Live for 120 days– No organelles or nucleus– Single drop = millions of cells

White Blood Cells

White Blood Cells

• A.k.a. leukocytes (“white” & “cell”)• Cells of the immune system

– Defend the body against infectious disease and foreign materials.

– Indicator of disease – 1% of blood in healthy adult. Greater # may mean infection.

• Produced in the bone marrow.• Live a few days to a few weeks.

Platelets

Platelets

• A.k.a. Thrombocytes• Responsible for clotting of the blood when

exposed to air.– Small, colorless, irregular shape, sticky

surfaces.• Life span of 8-12 days• Excessive bleeding can occur if their

numbers are too low.

Plasma• Responsible for transport

of cells. Like the stream to fish.– Carries dissolved salts (Ca,

Na, Mg, K)– Transports blood, glucose,

carbon dioxide.

• ~55% of blood. Straw-colored, clear liquid. Mostly (~90%) water.

• Serum is plasma without clotting proteins.

Blood Types & Rh Factor

Blood Types & Rh Factor

• A, B, AB, O refer to the presence or absence of antigens in the blood.– O is most common (neither antigen).– Blood types are inherited.

• Rh refers to the Rhesus Monkey – an antigen (D) is present in some people (which is common to Rhesus) = +.– 85% are + (99% Asians are +)– 15% are -.

RBC CompatibilityRecipient[1] Donor[1]

O− O+ A− A+ B− B+ AB− AB+

O−    

O+        

A−        

A+                

B−        

B+                

AB−                

AB+                                

Conditions

• Anemia – a symptom in which there are reduced RBC’s. Other symptoms are pale skin, feel weak, fast heart beat.

• Leukemia – cancer affecting bone marrow and immunity.

• Sickle-cell – anemia resulting genetically. RBC’s are sickle shaped.