1. Blood Notes
Red blood cells
&
White blood cells

2. Interesting Blood Facts
How long does it take a drop of blood to travel away from the heart and back again?
Roughly 20 to 60 seconds.

3. NOTES - BLOOD
Blood components
only fluid tissue – has both solid & liquid elements
living blood cells suspended in a non living matrix called PLASMA
Formed Elements
elements include: red blood cells (rbc), white blood cells (wbc) – many different forms, and platelets

4. RED BLOOD CELLS
aka: ERYTHROCYTES
Function:
carry oxygen to other cells – doesn’t use the O2, just carries it (rbc has no mitochondria)

5. RBC count:
approximately 4-6 million/mm3
Total: 30 trillion in an adult
RBC production
aka: HEMATOPOIESIS
produced by red marrow in bones
rate of RBC production controlled by hormone called ERYTHROPOIETIN
erythropoietin is produced by the kidneys and stimulated by blood level of oxygen
low 02 = more erythropoietin
high O2 = less erythropoietin

6. Hemoglobin (symbol “Hb”)
functions to carry O2 inside RBC
contains iron - low iron decreases ability to transport O2
one RBC contains 280 million Hb molecules – 4 oxygen molecules per Hb group

7. Iron
Iron deficiency: ANEMIA
ability to transport O2 impaired – symptom easily fatigued
sources of iron: liver, red meats, kidney beans, egg yolks, spinach

8. WHITE BLOOD CELLS – aka: Leukocytes
Function: fight disease
5,000 – 9,000/mm3
RBC to WBC ratio 700 : 1
WBC can squeeze through capillaries – RBC’s cannot - DIAPEDESIS

9. Granulocytes
granule containing WBC’s (3 types)

10. 1. Neutrophils
50 – 70%
most mobile – first to arrive
phagocytes - BACTERIA
life span: 12 hours or 2 dozen bacteria

11. 2. Eosinophils
2 –4 %
attacks parasites
releases chemicals that reduce inflammation

12. 3. Basophils
less than 1% - rare
discharge granules at injury sites
histamine – causes inflammation – prevents clots

13. Agranulocytes
WBC’s lacking visible cytoplasmic granules – 2 types
1. Monocytes
2 – 8%
phagocyte – bacteria, dead cells, debris within tissues

14. 2. Lymphocytes
20 – 30%
2 kinds: B – cells and T - cells
control of IMMUNE SYSTEM
responsible for allergies, graft rejection, tumor control