Blood Composition and Functions

Blood Functions

• Transports oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products.
• Regulates body temperature, pH, and fluid volume.
• Protects against infection and blood loss.

Plasma Components

• Plasma is the liquid component of blood.
• Functions of plasma include transporting blood cells, nutrients, and waste.
• Albumin is a plasma protein that helps maintain osmotic pressure and transports substances.

Hematocrit Definitions

• Hematocrit is the percentage of blood volume occupied by red blood cells.
• Clinical hematocrit measures the packed cell volume of red blood cells.

RBC Structure and Function

• Red blood cells (RBCs) carry oxygen.
• RBCs have a biconcave shape to increase surface area for gas exchange.
• RBCs lack a nucleus to maximize space for hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin Structure and Function

• Hemoglobin is a protein in RBCs that binds to oxygen.
• Hemoglobin consists of four polypeptide chains and heme groups containing iron.

Leukocytes and Their Functions

• Leukocytes are white blood cells involved in immune defense.
• Leukocytes include neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.
• Each type of leukocyte has a specific function in fighting infection and inflammation.

Erythropoietin Function

• Erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production.

Cells Forming Megakaryocytes

• Megakaryocytes produce platelets.

Blood Types and Donors

• Blood types are determined by the presence or absence of antigens on red blood cells.
• Blood types include A, B, AB, and O.
• Different blood types can donate to and receive blood from specific other types.

Incompatible Blood Transfusion

• An incompatible blood transfusion occurs when the recipient's immune system attacks the donor's red blood cells.

Hemolytic Disease

• Hemolytic disease of the newborn can occur when an Rh-negative mother carries an Rh-positive fetus.

Platelets

• Platelets are involved in blood clotting
• Platelets adhere, activate, aggregate, and stabilize

Vitamin K Importance

• Vitamin K is important for blood clotting as it helps produce certain factors

Fibrinolysis

• Fibrinolysis is the breakdown of blood clots.

Final Stage of Clotting

• The final stage of clotting involves cross-linking fibrin to stabilize the clot.

Prostaglandin

• Prostaglandins are involved in inflammation and blood flow.

Sections of Digestion

• Ingestion, propulsion, mechanical breakdown, chemical digestion, absorption, and defecation constitute the process of digestion.

Mechanical and Chemical Digestion

• Mechanical digestion physically breaks down food (e.g., chewing).
• Chemical digestion uses enzymes to break down food molecules (e.g., saliva).

Organ Functions

• Organs involved in digestion include the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.
• Absorption of nutrients mainly occurs in the small intestine

Gallbladder, Liver, Pancreas

• The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile.
• The liver produces bile and metabolizes nutrients.
• The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes and hormones.

Bile and Epiglottis

• Bile emulsifies fats for digestion.
• The epiglottis prevents food from entering the trachea during swallowing.

Peristalsis

• Peristalsis is the wave-like muscle contractions that propel food through the digestive tract.

Digestive Hormones

• Digestive hormones regulate digestive processes.

Enzymes

• Enzymes aid in the digestion of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.

Fat Soluble Absorption

• Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed in the bloodstream.
• Intrinsic factor is required for vitamin B12 absorption.

Liver Blood Flow

• The hepatic artery supplies oxygenated blood to the liver.

Overview of blood composition, including plasma and hematocrit. Red blood cells (RBCs) structure, function, and hemoglobin are discussed. Functions of blood include transport, regulation, and protection.