Blood Formed Elements and Functions

Blood Formed Elements

• Erythrocytes (red blood cells) make up 40% of blood
• Leukocytes (white blood cells) are 1%
• Platelets (fragments of bone marrow)
• Plasma (clear fluid) is 55%

White Blood Cell Counts & Functions

• White blood cells enter connective tissue to fight pathogens

• Granulocytes (BEN):

  • Basophils: stable, increase with chickenpox, sinusitis, diabetes, and polycythemia; large, irregular shape
  • Eosinophils: 10-14 µm, fluctuate throughout the day and the season, increase with parasites, infection, allergies, and collagen/spleen disease, two lobes connected by a thin strand
  • Neutrophils: 9-12 µm (Zits), increase with bacterial infections, 3-5 lobes in s or c shape

• Agranulocytes:

  • Monocytes: 12-15 µm, increase with viral infections and inflammation
  • Lymphocytes: 2,200 cells, increase with diverse infections and immune responses

Blood Proteins

• Albumins (60%): help heal wounds, maintain blood viscosity and osmolarity
• Globulins (36%): transportation
• Fibrinogen (4%): inactive precursor to blood clots, lasts 14 days without food and 3 days without water

Blood Production

• Thrombopoiesis: Production of platelets
• Hematopoietic stem cells become megakaryoblasts

Plasma Components

• Water makes up most of the plasma
• Proteins, nutrients, electrolytes, nitrogenous wastes, and hormones are all present

Granular White Blood Cells

• Basophils
• Eosinophils
• Neutrophils

Antibody Secreting Cells

• Lymphocytes

B and T-Cell Maturation

• B cells mature in the bone marrow
• T cells mature in the thymus

Platelets

• Platelets come from megakaryocytes
• They aid in blood clotting
• Functions include vasoconstriction, clot dissolving, white blood cell attraction, bacterial destruction, and stimulating mitosis for healing

Leukopenia

• Blood cell deficiency
• Possible causes include heavy metal poisoning or radiation exposure

Pulmonary and Systemic Circulation

• Pulmonary: blood flow from right heart to the lungs
• Systemic: blood flow from the left heart to all organs

Heart Valves

• Atrioventricular valves close when ventricles contract; semilunar valves close when ventricles relax

Heart Pacemaker

• Sinoatrial (SA) node

Heart Contraction

• Systole = contraction
• Diastole = relaxation
• Heart can sometimes regenerate

Lymphatic System

• Lymph flows one way
• Right lymphatic duct drains the right side of the body, thoracic duct drains the left
• Lymph contains neutrophils, NK cells, T cells, and B cells

Immunity

• Innate immunity is quick, characterized by fever, inflammation
• Adaptive immunity takes 5-7 days; B cells & antibodies, and cytotoxic T cells

Cell Production

• Germ cells make sperm

Body Fluids

• Fructose is a sugar used by sperm

Cancer

• Breast cancer is a common tumor in women
• Testicular cancer is a common tumor in young men

Menstruation and Childbirth

• Females experience their first menstruation
• Myometrium (smooth muscle) pushes out a fetus during childbirth

Explore the essential components of blood, including erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets, as well as their specific roles and counts. This quiz delves into the types of white blood cells and the crucial functions of blood proteins. Test your knowledge on the formation and functions of blood elements!