Blood System

Root Words

Snake Venom and Blood

This is where we come in…..

Coagulation abnormalities are due directly to snake venom interference with the coagulation cascade

Pharmacotherapy Pearls  Minimal envenomation: Swelling, pain, and bruising are limited to immediate bite site: no systemic signs and symptoms  Moderate envenomation: systemic signs and symptoms are not life threatening (nausea, vomiting, oral paresthesia, unusual taste, mild hypotension, mild tachycardia, tachypnea);

 Severe envenomation: (severe alteration of mental status, severe hypotension, severe tachycardia, tachypnea, respiratory insufficiency); coagulation parameters are abnormal; serious bleeding or severe threat of bleeding.

Coagulation -(also known as clotting) is the process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel, forming a clot. - Results in Hemostasis (The stoppage of blood flow) due to damage to blood vessels and soft tissue

Coagulation cont…  Blood platelets produce a protein called Thrombin, which produces a protein fiber that binds blood together

Blood  Connective Tissue that is essential for transporting substances between body cells and defending the body  Roughly 3x more viscous than water  Men have 5-6 liters, Women have 4-5 liters

Plasma  Yellow liquid that holds blood cells together  Makes up about 55% of blood volume

Erythrocytes  Red blood cells, concave discs.  Shape allows for transportation of gases.

Hemoglobin  Protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen  Also plays a role in maintaining the shape of red blood cells.  Give the red color to blood. When oxygen is released, results in deoxyhemoglobin, which is much darker

Oxyhemoglobin vs. Deoxyhemoglobin

Macrophages  “Eat” and destroy damaged red blood cells.  Primarily in liver and speen  Body constantly produces new cells, therefore they need to get red of the old ones.

Leukocytes  White blood cells that protect against disease.  Account for less than 1% of blood volume  Develop from red bone marrow

Function of Leukocytes  Some Phagocytize (eat) bacteria, some produce antibodies that destroy particles  Can move in and out of blood vessels into other tissue

Leukemia  Cancer of the white blood cells  Bone marrow produce abnormal leukocytes that don’t function properly

Thrombocytes  Platelets that are not complete cells. They fragment off of larger cells in the bone marrow.  Lack a nucleus and is half the size of a erythrocyte  Help close breaks in blood vessels and initiate blood clots

Fibrin: Fibrous protein involved with blood clotting. Hemostasis: The stoppage of bleeding - Coagulation: Blood clotting

Embolus  A clot that dislodges and breaks loose and is carried away by the blood flow.  Continues to flow until it reaches a narrow vessel and lodges.  Can be very dangerous is lodges in heart, lungs, or brain.  Drugs can be given to “break up” the clot