MODULE 08
PLASMA
Plasma accounts for 55% of the total
A BLOODY GOOD volume of blood, and is 92% water and
8% solutes.
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
Solutes include plasma proteins (albumin,
fibrinogen, and globulin), which account
This module discusses the heart and provides an for 7% of blood content.
explanation of the heart’s own blood supply, known as
coronary circulation. They also include inorganic salts
(electrolytes such as sodium, potassium,
SECTION 01: BLOOD and calcium), nutrients, and organic
wastes, which account for the remaining
1% of blood.
Blood performs a wide variety of functions, thus, it is critical
for the survival of our cells and organs.
Some of these functions include:
FORMED ELEMENTS
· Transporting elements throughout the body, e.g. oxygen
from the lungs to body tissues, and carbon dioxide from
There are three types of formed elements that make up
body tissues to the lungs to be exhaled
45% of blood.
· Regulating bodily functions, e.g. body temperature and
pH levels 1. Erythrocytes
· Protecting the body through immune responses, e.g. Erythrocytes are also known as red blood cells (R B Cs) and
white blood cells migrate to a site of infection through the contain hemoglobin to transport oxygen and carbon
blood. dioxide throughout the body.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BLOOD Features of R B Cs include:
Blood has predictable and stable characteristics that allow 1. They lack nuclei, making them “non true cells”
it to complete its functions. 2. They are 8 µm in diameter and 2 µm thick
Learn about the properties of blood. 3. Their life span is approximately 120 days
Viscosity (thickness of a fluid) - 4x more viscous than water
Temperature - 38ºC 2. Thrombocytes
p H levels - Ranges between 7.35 and 7.45 Thrombocytes are also known as platelets and are the
Volume in an individual - The average is 5L smallest formed elements of the blood. Their function is
hemostasis (stopping bleeding).
Interesting Fact
The viscosity of blood is the consistency of maple syrup! Features of platelets include:
1. They lack nuclei, making them “non true cells”
COMPONENTS OF BLOOD 2. They are round or spindle shaped discs
The two main components of blood are: 3. They are 2-4 µm in diameter
1. Plasma 4. They originate from megakaryocytes in the red bone
2. Formed Elements marrow
INTERESTING FACT
Megakaryocytes are very large in size, hence “mega”!
, 3. Leukocytes Basophils
Leukocytes are also known as white blood cells (W B Cs). Basophils are the least common granulocytes, making up
These cells have a nucleus but do not contain hemoglobin. less than 1% of W B Cs. The heparin and histamine in the
granules of basophils are released during inflammatory or
Leukocytes are further divided into two divisions: allergic reactions.
granulocytes, and agranulocytes. Granulocytes and
agranulocytes can be further divided into five different cell • The nucleus has 2-3 irregular lobes, and is obscured
types. by dark staining granules
• Granules in the cytoplasm contain heparin and
3.1 GRANULOCYTES histamine
Granulocytes are a division of leukocytes. The common
features of granulocytes are granules in the cytoplasm of
the cell and a segmented (lobed) nucleus. This is different
from agranulocytes, which do not contain granules in the
cytoplasm and do not have lobed nuclei.
There are three different types of granulocytes.
Neutrophils
Neutrophils are the most abundant cell types as they make
up 60-70% of all W B Cs. They are the first line of defense
against a bacterial invasion and they are phagocytic
outside of the blood, meaning that they engulf bacteria,
particles, and/or other cells.
• The nucleus is 2-6 lobes (usually 3)
GRANULOCYTES REVIEW CHART
• Small neutral coloured granules, which contain
lysosomal enzymes and bactericidal compounds
Cell Type Granules/ Nucleus Other Information
Cytoplasm
Neutrophil Lysosomal 2-6 lobes, Defend the body
enzymes and usually 3 against bacteria and
bactericidal are phagocytic
compounds, outside of the blood
small granules
and have a
neutral colour
Eosinophil Large spherical Bilobed Defend the body
and uniform against allergic
granules that reactions or parasitic
stain pinkish- infections
red
Eosinophils Basophil Granules 2-3 Nucleus is obscured
Eosinophils make up 2-4% of all W B Cs. They help defend contain irregular by dark granules. The
the body against allergic reactions or parasitic infections. heparin and lobes granules play a role
histamine in anti-inflammatory
and allergic
Parasitic infections: infectious diseases caused by parasites reactions.
such as worms and protozoa.
• Granules stain pinkish-red
• Nucleus is bilobed
• The cytoplasm is filled with large uniform spherical
granules, and contains enzymes that reduce and
control the spread of inflammation
PLASMA
Plasma accounts for 55% of the total
A BLOODY GOOD volume of blood, and is 92% water and
8% solutes.
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
Solutes include plasma proteins (albumin,
fibrinogen, and globulin), which account
This module discusses the heart and provides an for 7% of blood content.
explanation of the heart’s own blood supply, known as
coronary circulation. They also include inorganic salts
(electrolytes such as sodium, potassium,
SECTION 01: BLOOD and calcium), nutrients, and organic
wastes, which account for the remaining
1% of blood.
Blood performs a wide variety of functions, thus, it is critical
for the survival of our cells and organs.
Some of these functions include:
FORMED ELEMENTS
· Transporting elements throughout the body, e.g. oxygen
from the lungs to body tissues, and carbon dioxide from
There are three types of formed elements that make up
body tissues to the lungs to be exhaled
45% of blood.
· Regulating bodily functions, e.g. body temperature and
pH levels 1. Erythrocytes
· Protecting the body through immune responses, e.g. Erythrocytes are also known as red blood cells (R B Cs) and
white blood cells migrate to a site of infection through the contain hemoglobin to transport oxygen and carbon
blood. dioxide throughout the body.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BLOOD Features of R B Cs include:
Blood has predictable and stable characteristics that allow 1. They lack nuclei, making them “non true cells”
it to complete its functions. 2. They are 8 µm in diameter and 2 µm thick
Learn about the properties of blood. 3. Their life span is approximately 120 days
Viscosity (thickness of a fluid) - 4x more viscous than water
Temperature - 38ºC 2. Thrombocytes
p H levels - Ranges between 7.35 and 7.45 Thrombocytes are also known as platelets and are the
Volume in an individual - The average is 5L smallest formed elements of the blood. Their function is
hemostasis (stopping bleeding).
Interesting Fact
The viscosity of blood is the consistency of maple syrup! Features of platelets include:
1. They lack nuclei, making them “non true cells”
COMPONENTS OF BLOOD 2. They are round or spindle shaped discs
The two main components of blood are: 3. They are 2-4 µm in diameter
1. Plasma 4. They originate from megakaryocytes in the red bone
2. Formed Elements marrow
INTERESTING FACT
Megakaryocytes are very large in size, hence “mega”!
, 3. Leukocytes Basophils
Leukocytes are also known as white blood cells (W B Cs). Basophils are the least common granulocytes, making up
These cells have a nucleus but do not contain hemoglobin. less than 1% of W B Cs. The heparin and histamine in the
granules of basophils are released during inflammatory or
Leukocytes are further divided into two divisions: allergic reactions.
granulocytes, and agranulocytes. Granulocytes and
agranulocytes can be further divided into five different cell • The nucleus has 2-3 irregular lobes, and is obscured
types. by dark staining granules
• Granules in the cytoplasm contain heparin and
3.1 GRANULOCYTES histamine
Granulocytes are a division of leukocytes. The common
features of granulocytes are granules in the cytoplasm of
the cell and a segmented (lobed) nucleus. This is different
from agranulocytes, which do not contain granules in the
cytoplasm and do not have lobed nuclei.
There are three different types of granulocytes.
Neutrophils
Neutrophils are the most abundant cell types as they make
up 60-70% of all W B Cs. They are the first line of defense
against a bacterial invasion and they are phagocytic
outside of the blood, meaning that they engulf bacteria,
particles, and/or other cells.
• The nucleus is 2-6 lobes (usually 3)
GRANULOCYTES REVIEW CHART
• Small neutral coloured granules, which contain
lysosomal enzymes and bactericidal compounds
Cell Type Granules/ Nucleus Other Information
Cytoplasm
Neutrophil Lysosomal 2-6 lobes, Defend the body
enzymes and usually 3 against bacteria and
bactericidal are phagocytic
compounds, outside of the blood
small granules
and have a
neutral colour
Eosinophil Large spherical Bilobed Defend the body
and uniform against allergic
granules that reactions or parasitic
stain pinkish- infections
red
Eosinophils Basophil Granules 2-3 Nucleus is obscured
Eosinophils make up 2-4% of all W B Cs. They help defend contain irregular by dark granules. The
the body against allergic reactions or parasitic infections. heparin and lobes granules play a role
histamine in anti-inflammatory
and allergic
Parasitic infections: infectious diseases caused by parasites reactions.
such as worms and protozoa.
• Granules stain pinkish-red
• Nucleus is bilobed
• The cytoplasm is filled with large uniform spherical
granules, and contains enzymes that reduce and
control the spread of inflammation
