The Cardiovascular System: Blood
Presented By: Dr. Jennifer Smith-Herter
Over All Blood Characteristics
- Blood Amount: Female: 4-5 liters, Male: 5-6 liters
- Components of Blood: 55% Plasma, 45% Erythrocytes, >1% Leukocytes, >1% Platelets
- All blood cells are produced in the red bone marrow
- Erythropeoitin: Increases production of Red Blood cells
- Lymphokinin: Increases production of White Blood cells
- Thrombopeoitin: Increases production of Platelet cells
- Production is stimulated by Oxygen and regulated by the kidneys
Plasma
Process of Donating Plasma
- Registration: Present photo ID and read information
- Donor Health History and Mini Physical
- Hydrating makes process faster and safer
- Donation: answer questions and allow for ONE PINT of blood to be drawn.
- Blood is drained into spinning device to separate blood cells from Plasma
- Cool Down: sit, relax, and enjoy refreshment for 15 minutes
- Be Careful: be cautious in physical activity for a few hours after donation
*Considered the "gift of life" because it is the essential starting material to a healthier life
Appearance and Characteristics
- Light yellow liquid
- Largest component of the blood
- Carries salts and enzymes
Function of Plasma (Maintaining Homeostatsis)
- Allows blood to flow freely through the body bringing many important substances with
- Maintain osmotic pressure (pressure applied to prevent inward flow of water through semipermeable membrane)
- Carries necessary proteins to organs
White Blood Cells (Leukocytes)
- Protect body against infectious disease and foreign invaders
- Found in blood and lymphatic system
- Five Types:
- Lymphocyte: 2nd most abundant, produce antibodies, enable phagocytes to consume clusters of germs
- Monocyte: 5%-8%, largest white blood cell, act against multiplication of germs
- Eosinophil: 2%-5%, act against parasites (known to be cause of allergic reactions)
- Basophil: Least common, secrete antibodies and anticoagulants (limits hypersensitive reactions in the blood), immediate immune reaction against foreign invaders
- Neutrophil: 55%-75% abundance, C-shaped segmented nucleus, tend to stick to walls to prevent germs from entering through an infected wound
- Leukopenia: reduction of number of white blood cells in the blood
- Leukemia: bone-marrow produces an excess amount of abnormal white blood cells which leads to anemia
- Mononucleosis: abnormally high proportion of Monocytes in the blood
- Multiple Myeloma: blood cancer that develops in the blood, specifically cancer of Plasma cells
Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes)
Function and Hemoglobin:
- carry oxygen to all the body tissues and to carry waste back to the lungs to exit the body
- Hemoglobin: Iron-containing protein, forms unstable, reversible bond with oxygen
- Hemoglobin Test: measures amount of hemoglobin in blood, may be used to screen conditions that affect red blood cells
Anemia:
- condition of red blood cells and hemoglobin as a deficiency in the blood, resulting in weariness
- Iron Deficienncy: too few healthy blood cells due to too little iron in the body, medically treatable= Ferrlecit
- Hemolytic: red blood cells are destroyed and removed from the blood stream before their normal life span is over. Medically treated
- Hemorrhagic: reduced delivery of oxygen to tissues, treated with blood transfusions
- Sickle Cell: group of disorders that cause red blood cells to become misshapen and broken down, Pain reliever, medication by mouth
- Pernicious: decrease in red blood cells when the body cannot absorb enough vitamin B-12, medically treated
Polycythemia:
- abnormally increased concentration of hemoglobin in blood
- primary disease of unknown cause, secondary condition linked to respiratory or circulatory disorder, or cancer
- there is no cure, though precautions may be taken to prevent further damage of the disease
Appearance and Characteristics
- small, round, biconcave
- gives blood its characteristic color
- carries oxygen (from lungs to tissues) and waste (from tissues to lungs)
Hematocrit Test
- proportion of total blood volume composed of red blood cells
- done using a sample of blood
- the sample is placed into a centrifuge to help separate the blood into 3 separate parts
Process of Donating Blood
- Registration
- Mini Physical
- Hydrate
- Donation: answer questions and allow for ONE PINT of blood to be drawn.
- Cool Down
- Be Careful: be cautious in physical activity for a few hours after donation
Thrombocytes (Platelets)
Hemostasis:
- the stoppage of bleeding or hemorrhage
- Medically treated
Coumadin (Warfarin): helps to prevent new blood clots from forming
Heparin: prevents clots in the blood vessels before or after surgery
Aspirin: treats pain, fever, arthritis and inflammation. Also helps prevent heart attacks
Appearance and Characteristics
- irregularly shaped
- colorless
- sticky surface to help form clots
- no nucleus
- biconvex discoid
Funtion
*Stop bleeding by forming blood clots
Hemophilia
- disorder when blood does not clot normally
- Pain in the joints, bleeding, bruising, and swollen joints
- Medication and IV fluids work best