BIOS 255
(EDAPT WEEK 1)
Anatomy & Physiology III course with a lab
,General Functions of the Cardiovascular System
Introduction
In this lesson, you will be learning about blood, its composition, formed elements and plasma, and
hematopoiesis.
The topics covered in this concept include:
Major functions of each component of the cardiovascular system (i.e., blood, heart, blood vessels)
General composition of blood (e.g., plasma, formed elements)
Composition of blood plasma
Major types of plasma proteins
o Their functions
o Sites of production
Hematopoiesis
o Locations of hematopoiesis (hemopoiesis) and the significance of the hematopoietic stem cell
(HSC or hemocytoblast)
o Basic process of erythropoiesis
o Significance of the reticulocyte
o Regulation through erythropoietin (EPO)
o Basic process of leukopoiesis and thrombopoiesis
Questions
The type of blood cells that help fight infection are Leukocytes.
~ Leukocytes are responsible for immunologic protection of the body. That is, they function
to combat pathogens, foreign substances, and may play a role in coordinating the response
to tissue damage.
The process of producing the formed elements of blood is called hematopoiesis.
~ An adult typically produces 400 billion platelets, 200 billion RBCs and 10 billion WBCs by a
process called hematopoiesis that occurs in red bone marrow scattered throughout the
body.
What are the components of the circulatory system? Heart, blood vessels, and blood
~ The circulatory system consists of heart, blood vessels and blood. Heart and blood vessels
form the circulatory system
Which of the following is not a function of blood? Produces hormones.
~ Feedback: Major functions of blood include:
~ Transportation: transports oxygen, carbon dioxide nutrients (from lungs ),
nutrients (from intestine), hormones, heat and metabolic wastes.
~ Regulation: regulates homeostasis of all body fluids, intracellular fluids, pH,
and metabolic heat.
~ Protection: protects against excessive loss by clotting, against infections,
cancerous cells by WBCs and toxins by antibodies.
Introduction to the Cardiovascular System
,The circulatory system consists of the heart, blood vessels and blood. The heart and blood vessels
form the circulatory system and the study of blood is called hematology.
Blood is the liquid connective tissue that supports the cellular needs of nutrition and the elimination of
waste.
It has three major functions:
Transportation: Transports oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients (from intestine), hormones, heat,
and metabolic wastes.
Regulation: Regulates homeostasis of all body fluids, intracellular fluids, pH, and metabolic
heat.
Protection: Protects against excessive loss by clotting, against infections, cancerous cells by
WBCs, and toxins by antibodies.
General Characteristics of Blood
Blood is more viscous than water with the solutes, nutrients, gases, cells, and proteins dissolved.
It is a warmer fluid with a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F).
The color of blood ranges from bright red, when it is oxygenated, to dark red in a
deoxygenated form.
The normal blood volume range for men is between 5-6L and for women it is between 4-5L.
The normal pH of blood has a range between 7.35–7.45. A number of buffer systems help
regulate pH levels.
Table 18.1 Physical Characteristics of Blood
Watch the video below for an
Characteristics Normal Values overview of the cardiovascular
system.
Color Scarlet red (oxygen-rich) to dark red (oxygen-
poor)
Volume 4 – 5 L (females)
5 – 6 L (males)
Viscosity 4.5 – 5.5x (whole blood)
(relative to
water)
Plasma 0.09%
concentration
Temperature 38ºC (100.4ºF)
pH 7.35 – 7.45
, The General Composition of Blood
Blood is the liquid connective tissue with
Plasma, a clear yellow fluid as matrix that makes
about 55% of the blood volume
Formed elements (membrane-enclosed bodies) that
include platelets (thrombocytes), white blood cells
(leukocytes) and red blood cells (erythrocytes).
These components can be separated by a process called
fractionation which uses centrifugation of the blood sample.
After centrifugation (fig 18.2) erythrocytes settle at the
bottom of the tube, their packed volume when compared to
total blood is called hematocrit or packed cell volume (37-
52%).
Platelets and leukocytes constitute around 1% of the total
blood volume and form a buffy coat between the denser erythrocytes at the bottom of tube and the
clear, light-yellowish plasma (47-63%) on top.
Parts of Blood
If you need to examine antibodies against a virus in a patient, which part of the blood will you
need? Plasma
~ Plasma contains three proteins of which gammaglobulins are the antibodies formed
against various infections.
Composition of Plasma
The largest portion of whole blood is the plasma. A variety of substances may be found in the plasma,
including proteins, metabolic wastes, nutrients, respiratory gases, electrolytes, and hormones. All of
the substances contained in the plasma are of significance; however, plasma proteins exert the
greatest effect on the physical characteristics of whole blood and many are synthesized by the liver.
The major plasma proteins in blood include albumin, globulins, and fibrinogen.
Albumin
Albumin makes up 60% of the plasma protein and is essential for maintaining osmotic balance
between the blood and the tissues. Hypoalbuminemia is a decrease in the plasma albumin
concentration and results in hypoosmotic blood, causing the net movement of water out of the
vascular space and accumulation in the interstitial spaces. This is known as edema. Disruption of
kidney function can result in albuminuria (the loss of albumin in the urine). Liver failure and severe
burns often lead to hypoalbuminemia, resulting in edema and reduced blood viscosity. Children
suffering from dietary protein deficiencies exhibit kwashiorkor, characterized by thin appendages
(due to lack of protein) and a swollen abdomen (due to ascites).
(EDAPT WEEK 1)
Anatomy & Physiology III course with a lab
,General Functions of the Cardiovascular System
Introduction
In this lesson, you will be learning about blood, its composition, formed elements and plasma, and
hematopoiesis.
The topics covered in this concept include:
Major functions of each component of the cardiovascular system (i.e., blood, heart, blood vessels)
General composition of blood (e.g., plasma, formed elements)
Composition of blood plasma
Major types of plasma proteins
o Their functions
o Sites of production
Hematopoiesis
o Locations of hematopoiesis (hemopoiesis) and the significance of the hematopoietic stem cell
(HSC or hemocytoblast)
o Basic process of erythropoiesis
o Significance of the reticulocyte
o Regulation through erythropoietin (EPO)
o Basic process of leukopoiesis and thrombopoiesis
Questions
The type of blood cells that help fight infection are Leukocytes.
~ Leukocytes are responsible for immunologic protection of the body. That is, they function
to combat pathogens, foreign substances, and may play a role in coordinating the response
to tissue damage.
The process of producing the formed elements of blood is called hematopoiesis.
~ An adult typically produces 400 billion platelets, 200 billion RBCs and 10 billion WBCs by a
process called hematopoiesis that occurs in red bone marrow scattered throughout the
body.
What are the components of the circulatory system? Heart, blood vessels, and blood
~ The circulatory system consists of heart, blood vessels and blood. Heart and blood vessels
form the circulatory system
Which of the following is not a function of blood? Produces hormones.
~ Feedback: Major functions of blood include:
~ Transportation: transports oxygen, carbon dioxide nutrients (from lungs ),
nutrients (from intestine), hormones, heat and metabolic wastes.
~ Regulation: regulates homeostasis of all body fluids, intracellular fluids, pH,
and metabolic heat.
~ Protection: protects against excessive loss by clotting, against infections,
cancerous cells by WBCs and toxins by antibodies.
Introduction to the Cardiovascular System
,The circulatory system consists of the heart, blood vessels and blood. The heart and blood vessels
form the circulatory system and the study of blood is called hematology.
Blood is the liquid connective tissue that supports the cellular needs of nutrition and the elimination of
waste.
It has three major functions:
Transportation: Transports oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients (from intestine), hormones, heat,
and metabolic wastes.
Regulation: Regulates homeostasis of all body fluids, intracellular fluids, pH, and metabolic
heat.
Protection: Protects against excessive loss by clotting, against infections, cancerous cells by
WBCs, and toxins by antibodies.
General Characteristics of Blood
Blood is more viscous than water with the solutes, nutrients, gases, cells, and proteins dissolved.
It is a warmer fluid with a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F).
The color of blood ranges from bright red, when it is oxygenated, to dark red in a
deoxygenated form.
The normal blood volume range for men is between 5-6L and for women it is between 4-5L.
The normal pH of blood has a range between 7.35–7.45. A number of buffer systems help
regulate pH levels.
Table 18.1 Physical Characteristics of Blood
Watch the video below for an
Characteristics Normal Values overview of the cardiovascular
system.
Color Scarlet red (oxygen-rich) to dark red (oxygen-
poor)
Volume 4 – 5 L (females)
5 – 6 L (males)
Viscosity 4.5 – 5.5x (whole blood)
(relative to
water)
Plasma 0.09%
concentration
Temperature 38ºC (100.4ºF)
pH 7.35 – 7.45
, The General Composition of Blood
Blood is the liquid connective tissue with
Plasma, a clear yellow fluid as matrix that makes
about 55% of the blood volume
Formed elements (membrane-enclosed bodies) that
include platelets (thrombocytes), white blood cells
(leukocytes) and red blood cells (erythrocytes).
These components can be separated by a process called
fractionation which uses centrifugation of the blood sample.
After centrifugation (fig 18.2) erythrocytes settle at the
bottom of the tube, their packed volume when compared to
total blood is called hematocrit or packed cell volume (37-
52%).
Platelets and leukocytes constitute around 1% of the total
blood volume and form a buffy coat between the denser erythrocytes at the bottom of tube and the
clear, light-yellowish plasma (47-63%) on top.
Parts of Blood
If you need to examine antibodies against a virus in a patient, which part of the blood will you
need? Plasma
~ Plasma contains three proteins of which gammaglobulins are the antibodies formed
against various infections.
Composition of Plasma
The largest portion of whole blood is the plasma. A variety of substances may be found in the plasma,
including proteins, metabolic wastes, nutrients, respiratory gases, electrolytes, and hormones. All of
the substances contained in the plasma are of significance; however, plasma proteins exert the
greatest effect on the physical characteristics of whole blood and many are synthesized by the liver.
The major plasma proteins in blood include albumin, globulins, and fibrinogen.
Albumin
Albumin makes up 60% of the plasma protein and is essential for maintaining osmotic balance
between the blood and the tissues. Hypoalbuminemia is a decrease in the plasma albumin
concentration and results in hypoosmotic blood, causing the net movement of water out of the
vascular space and accumulation in the interstitial spaces. This is known as edema. Disruption of
kidney function can result in albuminuria (the loss of albumin in the urine). Liver failure and severe
burns often lead to hypoalbuminemia, resulting in edema and reduced blood viscosity. Children
suffering from dietary protein deficiencies exhibit kwashiorkor, characterized by thin appendages
(due to lack of protein) and a swollen abdomen (due to ascites).
