Blood Suffolk County Community College（血萨福克县社区学院）.pdf

Blood • Sticky, opaque fluid with a metallic taste (Fe2+) • Varies from scarlet (PO2 = 100) to dark red (PO2 = 40) • pH is between 7.35 and 7.45 • Average volume in an adult is 5 L (7% of body weight) – 2 L = blood cells (formed elements) – 3 L = plasma fluid portion of blood (ECF) • Functions include: – Substance distribution – Body protection (clotting and immunity) Components of Blood Centrifugation separates blood based on density • Plasma (least dense) ~58% of whole blood volume – 92% H O, 7% Proteins, 1% dissolved substances 2 (organic molecules,ions, gasses) • Formed Elements (cells) – Buffy coat (platelets and leukocytes (WBCs)) • less than 1% of whole blood volume – Erythrocytes (red blood cells (RBCs)) (most dense) • 42% of whole blood volume – Hematocrit (Hct) – 1 μL = 1/1,000,000 L of blood contains: • 5,000,000 RBCs • 4,000 – 11,000 WBCs • 150,000 – 450,000 platelets Erythrocytes (RBCs) • Biconcave disc shape with a diameter of 7.5 mm, • Very flexible – folds in order to move through some blood vessels that have a diameter smaller (5.0 mm) than the RBC • Membranous “bags” filled with enzymes and Hb – no mitochondria (anaerobic fermentation only) – no nucleus or endoplasmic reticulum • no protein synthesis to make new enzymes, Hb or membrane components • leads to increased loss of membrane flexibility making older cells more fragile and prone to rupture – life span of an erythrocyte in circulation is ~120 days whereby they are removed by macrophages of the spleen and liver Erythropoiesis • In a healthy adult, the number of new RBCs entering circulation equals the number of old RBCs