INTRODUCTION
• The normal pH range of blood is 7.35 to 7.45,which is slightly
pH of blood alkaline. The venous blood normally has a lower pH than the arterial
blood because of presence of more Carbon dioxide.
• The temperature of the blood is 38°C(100.4°F), about 1°Chogher than
Temperature
oral or rectal body temperature.
• ‘Viscosity’ means thickness or resistance to flow. Blood is about 3-5
times denser & more viscous(thicker) than water & feels slightly
Viscosity
sticky. Viscosity is increased by the presences of blood cells & plasma
proteins. This thickness contributes to normal blood pressure.
• The colour of blood varies with its oxygen content. Arterial blood is
Colour bright red due to it’s high level of oxygen. Venous blood has given up
much of it’s oxygen in tissues & thus has a darker, dull red colour.
• Blood constitutes about 20% of extracellular fluid, amounting to 8%
Amount of total body mass. The blood volume is 5L to 6L(1.5gal) in average
sized adult male & 4L to 5L(1.2gal) in an average sized adult female.
COMPOSITION OF BLOOD
PLASMA
When formed elements are removed from blood, a straw coloured liquid
called blood plasma is left. The table below describes the chemical
composition of blood plasma-
Liquid portion of blood. Acts as solvent and suspending medium for
WATER(91.5%)
components of blood; absorbs, transports and releases heat.
PLASMA Exert colloid osmotic pressure , which helps maintain water balance
PROTEIN(7.0%) between blood and tissues and regulates blood volume.
Smallest and most numerous blood plasma proteins; produces by
ALBUMIN liver. Transports proteins for several steroid hormones and for fatty
acids.
Produces by liver and plasma cells, which develop from B lymphocytes.
GLOBULINS Antibodies help attack viruses and bacteria. Alpha and beta globulins
transport iron, lipids and fat soluble vitamin.
FIBRINOGEN
Produces by liver. Plays essential role in blood clotting.
Inorganic salts. Positively charges ions(cations) include
Na+,K+,Ca+,Mg2+;
OTHER SOLUTES(1.5%)
Negatively charged ions(anions) include Cl-,HPO42-,SO42-,HCO3-.
ELECTROLYTES
Help maintain osmotic pressure and plays essential roles in
function of cells.
Products of digestion pass into blood for distribution to all body
cells. Includes amino acids(from proteins), glucose(from
NUTRIENTS
carbohydrates), fatty acids and glycerol(from triglycerides),
vitamins and minerals.
Oxygen, Carbon dioxide and Nitrogen. More O2 is associated with
GASES hemoglobin inside red blood cells; more CO2 is dissolved in
plasma. N2 is present but has no known functions in the body.
Enzymes, produces by body cells, catalyze chemical reactions.
REGULATORY Hormones, produced by endocrine glands, regulate metabolism,
SUBSTANCES growth and development. Vitamins are cofactors for enzymatic
reactions.
Most are breakdown products of protein metabolism and are
WASTE PRODUCTS carried by blood to organs of excretion. Include urea, uric acid,
creatine, creatinine, bilirubin and ammonia.
FORMED ELEMENTS
NAME AND
NUMBER CHARACTERSTICS* FUNCTIONS
APPEARANCE
Red Blood Hemoglobin within RBCs
4.8 million/µL in 7-8 µm diameter,
Cells(RBCs) or transports most of the
females biconcave discs,
Erythrocytes oxygen and part of
4.5 million/µL in without nuclei; live for
carbon dioxide in the
males about 120 days.
blood.
Most live for a few
White Blood hours to a few days. Combat pathogen and
Cells(WBCs) or 5000-10,000/µL Some called T and B other foreign substances
Leukocytes memory cells can live that enter the body.
for many years.
Phagocytosis.
10-12µm diameter;
Destruction of bacteria
Granular nucleus has 2-5 lobes
with lysozymes,
Leukocytes connected by thin
60%-70% of all defensins and strong
strands of chromatin;
WBCs oxidants, such as
Neutrophiles cytoplasm has very
superoxide anion,
fine, pale, lilac
hydrogen peroxide, and
granules.
hypochlorite anion.
*Colors are those seen using Wright’s stain
10-12µm diameter; Eliminates parasites, such as
nucleus usually has 2 lobes worms which are too big to be
2-4% of all connected by s thick strand phagocytosed; phagocytes
Eosinophils
WBCs of chromatin; large, red- antigen-antibody complexes &
orange granules fill the combat the effects of
cytoplasm. histamine in allergic reactions
8-10µm diameter; nucleus Liberate heparin, histamine
0.5-1% of all has 2 lobes; large and serotonin in allergic
Basophils
WBCs cytoplasmic granules reactions that intensify the
appear deep blue-purple. overall inflammatory response.
Medium immune response,
Small lymphocytes are 6- including antigen-antibody
Agranular
9µm in diameter; large reactions. B cells develop into
Leukocytes
lymphocytes are 10-14µm plasma cells, which secrete
in diameter; nucleus is antibodies, T cells attack
Lymphocytes
20-25% of all round or slightly indented; invading viruses, cancer cells,
(T cells, B
WBCs cytoplasm forms a rim and transplanted tissue cells.
cells &
around the nucleus that Natural killer calls attach a
natural killer
looks sky blue; the larger wide variety of infectious
cells)
the cell, the more microbes and certain
cytoplasm is visible. spontaneously arising tumor
cells.
Acts on the
12-20µm hypothalamus, causing
diameter; nucleus the rise in body
is kidney shaped temperature with
or horseshoe microbial infections;
3-8% of all
Monocytes shaped. stimulates the production
WBCs
Cytoplasm is blue- of some globulins by the
grey and has liver; enhances the
foamy production of activated T-
appearance. lymphocytes;
Phagocytosis
2-3µm diameter
Form platelet plug in
cell fragments
homeostasis; release
150,000- that live for 5-
Platelets(Thrombocytes) chemicals that promote
400,000/µL 9days; contains
vascular spasm and blood
many vesicles but
clotting.
no nucleus.
Haemopoiesis: Stages in the development of
blood cells
FUNCTIONS OF BLOOD
TRANSPORTATION REGULATION PROTECTION
• Respiration • Regulates pH • WBC protects
• Nutrient carrier • Adjusts and against disease
from GIT maintains body by phagocytosis
• Transportation temperature • Reservoir for
of hormones • Maintains water substances like
from endocrine content of cells water,
glands electrolyte etc.
• Transports • Performs
metabolic haemostasis
wastes
