Blood

Question 1

What is blood?

Answer 1

A collection of cells set specialized to perform a set of particular tasks (also referred to as a connective tissue)

Question 2

What is in blood?

Answer 2

Plasma (liquid)
Red Blood Cells
White Blood Cells
Platelets

Question 3

Functions of blood

Answer 3

-Circulates vital materials to all your cells (i.e. O2, nutrients) and
removes waste products of cell metabolism (i.e. CO2)

• Equalizes temperature in your body by delivering heat to the extremities
• defends your body against disease (i.e. antibodies)

Question 4

Plasma

Answer 4

protein-rich liquid in which BLOOD CELLS, ANTIBODIES, FIBRINOGEN, DISSOLVED IONS and PLATELETS are suspended; 90% water

Question 5

Erythrocytes: Red Blood Cells

Answer 5

make up 45% of total blood volume

Bi-concave disc shape

Have no nucleus

Main function is to transport O2 & CO2 via hemoglobin

Question 6

hemoglobin molecule

Answer 6

protein in red blood cell
4 heme groups on a hemoglobin molecule
each heme group contains an iron atom which bond to the oxygen
able to bind 4 oxygen molecules to 4 irons
made from bone marrow

Question 7

Leukocytes or white blood cells

Answer 7

• make up less than 1% of total blood volume
• Colourless, has nuclei
• Produced in bone marrow
• Numbers will double/triple when fighting infection
• Defence against disease & immunity for body

Question 8

Thrombocytes (platelets)

Answer 8

• very small irregularly shaped cell fragments
• Do not contain nuclei
• Breaks down quickly in blood ~ 7 to 10 days
• Plays role in blood clotting → excessive blood loss

Question 9

blood doping

Answer 9

-when blood is removed from the body and then injected back later
-used by athletes to increase blood volume and # of RBC’s able to deliver oxygen to muscles.
erythropoietin (EPO) is the hormone that naturally regulates RBC production
athletes may also inject EPO to increase RBC

practice is also sometimes used to help patients in medical situations.