Blood Components

Blood
Blood-the “River of Life”

Blood is the only fluid tissue in the human body. Blood
is classified as a connective tissue. Blood carries
nutrients, waste, and body heat through blood
vessels.
• Components of blood
– Living cells
• Formed elements
– Non-living matrix
• Plasma
Blood Composition
If blood is centrifuged
– Erythrocytes sink to the bottom (45%
of blood, a percentage known as the
hematocrit)
– Buffy coat contains leukocytes and
platelets (less than 1% of blood)
• Buffy coat is a thin, whitish layer
between the erythrocytes and
plasma
– Plasma rises to the top (55% of blood)
The formed elements (blood cells) make blood

heavier and 5 times thicker (more viscous)
than water.
Blood
Figure 10.1 (2 of 2)
Physical Characteristics of Blood
• Color range
– Oxygen-rich blood is scarlet
red
– Oxygen-poor blood is dull
red
• pH must remain between 7.35–
7.45
Acidosis (pH7. 2) Death (pH 7)

Physical Characteristics of Blood
• Blood temperature is slightly higher than body

temperature at 100.4°F
• In a healthy man, blood volume is about 5–6
liters or about 6 quarts
• Blood makes up 8% of body weight
Functions of Blood
• Functions include (More details on next 3
slides)
– Distributing substances
– Regulating blood levels of substances
– Protection
Distribution Functions
• Delivering O2 and nutrients to body cells
• Transporting metabolic wastes to lungs
and kidneys for elimination
• Transporting hormones from endocrine
organs to target organs
Regulation Functions
• Maintaining body temperature by
absorbing and distributing heat
• Maintaining normal pH using buffers;
alkaline reserve of bicarbonate ions
• Maintaining adequate fluid volume in
circulatory system
Protection Functions
• Preventing blood loss
– Plasma proteins and platelets initiate clot
formation
• Preventing infection
– Antibodies
– Complement proteins
– WBCs
Blood Plasma
Composition
• Composed of
approximately 90%
water
• Includes many
dissolved substances
– Nutrients
– Salts (electrolytes)
– Respiratory gases
– Hormones
– Plasma proteins
– Waste products
Blood Plasma
• Plasma proteins
– Most abundant solutes in
plasma
– Most plasma proteins are
made by liver
– Various plasma proteins
include
• Albumin—regulates
osmotic pressure
• Fibrinogen: Clotting
proteins—help to stem
blood loss when a blood
vessel is injured
• Globulins: Antibodies—
help protect the body
from pathogens
Blood Plasma:
Homeostatic imbalances
• Acidosis
– Blood becomes too
acidic
• Alkalosis
– Blood becomes too
basic
• In each scenario,
the respiratory
system and kidneys
help restore blood
pH to normal
Formed Elements
• Erythrocytes
– Red blood cells (RBCs)
• Leukocytes
– White blood cells (WBCs)
• Platelets
• Cell fragments
Morphological identification of Red
blood cells, Mature Leukocytes and
Platelets
Peripheral blood smear
Red Blood Cells
They are anucleate, non-granulated, eosinophilic cells that are uniform in
shape (biconcave discs) and size (7.2 microns). RBCs have a central cavity
(a.k.a., central pallor) that appears pale under the light microscope. These
cells contain hemoglobin and are responsible for the transport and delivery
of oxygen.
Polymorphs (Neutrophils)
A PMN, commonly called polymorph or neutrophil is 12-15μm in diameter.

It consists of a characteristic dense nucleus, having 2-5 lobes and pale
cytoplasm containing numerous fine violet-pink granules
Lymphocyte
Majority of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood are small (9-12μm in diameter)

called microlymphocyte, but large lymphocytes (12-16μm in diameter) called
macrolymphocyte are also found. Both small and large lymphocytes have round or
slightly indented with nucleus with coarsely clumped chromatin and a scanty
basophilic and agranular cytoplasm.
Monocyte
The monocyte is the largest mature leukocyte in the peripheral blood measuring
12-20μm in diameter. It posses a large, central oval notched or indented or kidney
shaped nucleus which has a characteristically fine reticulated chromatin network.
The cytoplasm is abundant, pale blue and contains many fine granules and vacuole
Eosinophils
Eosinophils are similar to segmented neutrophil in size (12-15μm) in diameter, but have
coarse, deep red staining granules in the cytoplasm and have usually two nuclear lobes
in the form of a spectacle.
Basophil
Basophil resembles the other mature granulocytes but is distinguished by coarse,

intensely basophilic granules which usually fills the cytoplasm and often overlaps
the nucleus.
Platelets
Platelets are anucleate, discoid cells, roughly 2-3 μm in diameter that function
primarily as regulators of hemostasis, but also play secondary roles in
angiogensis and innate immunity.

Blood Components

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Blood

Blood-the “River of Life”

The formed elements (blood cells) make blood

Acidosis (pH7. 2) Death (pH 7)

• Blood temperature is slightly higher than body

A PMN, commonly called polymorph or neutrophil is 12-15μm in diameter.

Majority of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood are small (9-12μm in diameter)

Basophil resembles the other mature granulocytes but is distinguished by coarse,

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