Blood Flashcards
What are the functions of the blood?
- Transportation
- carries oxygen and nutrients to all cells of the body
- carries away carbon dioxide and waste products to be eliminated through the lungs, skin, kidneys and large intestine - Heat regulation
- helps to equalize body temperature, thus protecting the body from extreme heat and cold - Protection
- aids in protecting the body from harmful bacteria and infections through the action of white blood cells
- forms clot, closing injured blood vessels and preventing blood loss
Blood facts
Hematology - study of blood
Human body consists of 8-10 pints of blood
98.6 degrees F / 37 degrees C
Dark red (purple/ bluish blood) is in the veins (deoxygenated)
bright red is oxygenated
Blood is derived from the digestive chyle
The skin hold about 1/2 to 2/3 of the blood in the body
Blood is a liquid connective tissue consisting of 2/3 plasma and 1/3 solid blood cells
Plasma - fluid
Formed from digested food and water
Consists of: protein, salt, minerals and 9/10 is water
helps transport wastes
Straw- coloured
Red and white blood cells and blood platelets flow in plasma
Red blood cells (erythrocytes)
The red colouring is from a protein called haemoglobin which has the capacity to carry oxygen and is vital in circulation
Red blood cells carry oxygen to all the cells and transport carbon dioxide to the lungs
They are made in red bone marrow
White blood cells (Leukocytes)
Colourless and larger in size
Produced in yellow marrow of long bones, spleen; and lymph glands
Protects the body against diseases by fighting harmful bacteria and their poisons in the blood stream
Blood platelets (Thrombocytes)
Much smaller than red blood cells
have irregular bodies
formed in the bone marrow
Main task is clotting of the blood
Circulatory system
Aka: cardiovascular system or vascular system
Has two divisions;
- Blood vascular system: it is comprised of the heart and blood vessels for the circulation of blood through the arteries, capillaries and veins.
- Lymphatic system: consisting of lymph gland vessels that circulate lymph
Cardiovascular system
Major function is transportation
Using the blood the system Carrie’s oxygen, nutrients, cell waste, hormones and many other substances
Vital for homeostasis
The heart
Rests on the diaphragm *
Size of a persons fist, hollow, cone shaped, heart weighs less than a pound
About two third of the mass of the heart lies to the left of the body midline
The sternum helps protect the heart
Pure oxygenated blood goes away from the heart to the body and deoxygenated blood goes towards the heart
Pericardium
The membrane that surrounds and protects the heart
The heart is enclosed by a triple layered sack the sack rests on and is attached to the diaphragm
The pericardium is filled with serous fluid - ( fluid with lymph and electrolyte) this fluid allows the heart to beat easily in a relatively frictionless environment
Cardiac muscle fibres
Shorter and more tightly connected
Enables the contraction of one fiber to stimulate the others to contract synchronously
All cardiac muscle fibres have a built in contraction rhythm, and the fibres with the highest rhythm determine the heartbeat or heart rate.
Typical discharge rate (heart rate)
70-80 beats per minute
How many layers of the heart wall are there? What are they?
The heart consists of 3 layers
Epicardium - external layer
Is both part of the pericardium and part of the heart wall
Myocardium - middle layer, makes up 95% of the heart and responsible for pumping action of the heart and pumping blood- made of cardiac muscle tissue
Endocardium - inner layer
A thin layer of endothelium Overlaying a thin layer of connective tissue
Body of the heart
Consists of 4 chambers
Two upper: Atria (receiving chambers)
Two lower: ventricles (discharging chambers)
4 valves total
2 valves in the chambers keeps blood flowing in one direction
* know for test*
- TRICUSPID VALVE:
- between the right atrium and right ventricle
(3 cusps) - BICUSPID (mitral) VALVE:
between left atrium and left ventricle
(2 cusps)
2 other valves: pulmonary semilunar valve & Aortic semilunar valve
These guard the bases of two large arteries leaving the ventricular chambers
What is the flow of blood?
Blood enters the right atrium of the heart through two large veins Inferior and Superior vena cava & coronary sinus
It is then pumped into the right ventricle
then pumped to the lungs through the pulmonary artery
Blood then becomes oxygenated blood
What divides the heart longitudinally?
The septum
Coronary circulation
Although the heart chambers are bathed with the blood almost continuously, the blood contained in the heart does not nourish the myocardium
The blood supply that oxygenates and nourishes the heart is provided by the right and left coronary arteries and drained by the cardiac veins
Systole
Refers to a phase of contraction
Diastole
Refers to a phase of relaxation
What is the right side of the heart referred to as?
Pulmonary pump
What is the left side of the heart referred to as?
Systemic pump
Pulmonary circulation explained
Blood is pumped by the heart to the lungs where it is purified and then pumped back to the heart.
With each respiratory cycle an exchange of gases takes place.
During inhalation, oxygen is absorbed into the blood. During exhalation carbon dioxide is expelled.
Pulmonary circulation pathway
Inferior/ superior vena cava
Right atrium
Tricuspid valve
Right ventricle
Pulmonary valve
Pulmonary artery
Lungs
General/ Systemic circulation
Lungs
Pulmonary vein
Left atrium
Bicuspid valve
Left ventricle
Aortic valve
Aorta
What does the blood travel through in order to move throughout the body and back to the heart?
Arteries, capillaries and veins
Arteries
“Conducting arteries”
Conduct blood from the heart to medium sized muscular arteries
The structure of arteries: elasticity and contractibility
Oxygenated blood in the arteries is red
Arteries are thick walled, muscular and elastic vessels that carry blood from the heart to arterioles
arterioles: small microscopic arteries that deliver blood to the capillaries
They play an important role in regulating blood flow from arteries to capillaries
Capillaries
Microscopic vessels that usually connect arterioles and venules
These are tiny blood vessels which branch off the arterioles 
They are one celled epithelial tissue which services all tissues of the body
The exchange of nutrients, chemicals oxygen, and waste products are found at the union of capillaries that lead to the venules
This exchange is called l: ANASTOMOSIS
The venous system
The Venous system is a complex network of veins and venules
(tiny veins through which blood returns to the heart and lungs for recharge of oxygen)
When several capillaries unite to a small vein it is called a venule
Venule collect deoxygenated blood containing waste products from the capillaries and drain into veins
Vein
A vessel that transports deoxygenated blood away from the tissue and organs and back towards the heart
Walls are thinner but larger in diameter in comparison to arteries
Are not elastic
Veins contain valves controlling blood flow
Veins are closer to the outer skin surface of the body than arteries
The inferior vena cava (vein)
vein draining the blood from the lower portion of the body
The superior vena cava
Vein which drains blood from the upper portion of the body
Lymphatic system is made up of
Lymph, lymph nodes, thymus gland, spleen, and lymph vessels
What do the lymphatic and immune system have in common?
They protect the body from disease by developing immunity‘s and destroying disease causing microorganisms and to drain tissue spaces of excess interstitial fluid
It carries waste and impurities away from their cells
How is the Lymphatic system connected to the blood and cardiovascular system?
They both transport fluids
the difference is that lymphatic system transports lymph and the blood system transports blood
Lymph capillaries are distributed throughout most of the body except where?
The nervous system
Lymphatic vessels
Are tubes that are closed at one end
Can occur individually or in clusters that are called lymph capillaries
Functions of the lymphatic system
The primary function is to produce, maintain and distribute lymphocytes which provide defence against infection and other environmental hazards
Drains excess interstial fluid

Transports lipids and lipid soluble vitamins absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract to the blood
Lymphatic tissue carries out immune responses
Maintains blood volume by returning the interstitial fluid seeping out of the capillary walls back to the circulatory system
Carry nourishment from blood to cells
Removes waste from blood and cells
Suitable fluid environment for cells
To aid in reducing swelling, inflammation and accumulations in the blood vessels
When people experience fluid retention this is also referred to as:
And explain further
Interstitial fluid
Most common in the feet and ankles
The lymphatic system functions to return this fluid to the circulatory system
Explain how the lymphatic system returns interstitial fluid to the circulatory system
Lymphatic channels collect the fluid and they flow through lymph ducts to eventually return to the circulatory system at the superior aspect of the chest
All massage manipulations should be directed towards
The chest
This is so fluid is encouraged to move back into the circulatory system
The lymphatic system also functions as
A defence against infection
Where are major lymph nodes located?
Major lymph nodes are located at the base of the neck, axillae (armpits), groin and abdomen where they filter lymph from the head, arms, legs and intestinal track
What are produced in the lymphatic system to Fight infection?
Antibodies
What are the major organs of the lymphatic system?
Major organs of the lymphatic system include lymph nodes, thymus, spleen, tonsils, and bone marrow
Lymph nodes
Lymph flows through a node in one direction
The lymph node functions like a filter purifying lymph before it reaches the venous blood circulation
At least 99% of the antigens in the lymph are removed
It provides an early warning system 
Thymus
The thymus gland is the main organ of the lymphatic system
Its primary function is to promote the development of T lymphocytes (cells of the immune system) 
Once mature, the cells leave the thymus and are transported via blood vessels to the lymph nodes and spleen
T lymphocytes are responsible for cell mediated immunity - which involves the activation of certain immune cells to fight infection
The thymus also produces hormones that promote growth and maturation

Spleen
largest organ of the lymphatic system
primary function is to filter blood of damage cells, cellular debris, and pathogens
aids in the maturation of lymphocytes
The spleen is rich in blood supplied through the splenic artery
The spleen also contains efferent lymphatic vessels which transport lymph away from the spleen and towards the lymph nodes
Bone marrow
Bone marrow is the soft, flexible tissue found inside the bone
Bone marrow is responsible for the production of blood cells; red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets
Bone marrow stem cells play in important role in immunity as they generate lymphocytes
Tonsils
Oval shaped pink tissue at the back of the throat
You have two tonsils one on each side
Tonsils help to fight infection by reacting to germs that enter the nose and mouth
Infected tonsils become inflamed and swollen tonsilitis is more common in children
Arthrosclerosis
This is a type of hardening of the arteries resulting from fibro fatty lesions in the arteries
Aggravated by smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes
This can result in blood clots which can damage organs and possibly heart attacks
Varicose veins
Most commonly seen in the legs
The valves which control blood flow become weak and ceise to function
Veins become dilated and blood pools in the vein sometimes leading to seepage of fluid into surrounding tissues
Seen in 10 to 20% of all adults
Main causes: heredity, obesity, pregnancy and work which caused people to be on their feet constantly
No Massage should be performed over varicose veins
Aneurysm
An aneurism is a localized dilation of the blood vessel and can occur in arteries and veins.
The aneurism can rupture and cause an interruption in blood flow which can lead to a stroke
Venous thrombosis
Thrombophlebitis
The presence of a thrombus (clot) in a vein and the inflammatory response in the wall of a vein
This is most common in the calf of a leg
Pain and tenderness is common in the area
If the vein is deep in the leg there may be no obvious symptoms
The danger of a thrombus is that any massage in the area may free the clot and turn into an embolus which will move through the veins and into an artery possibly causing a heart attack or stroke
NO massage of any kind
Hypertension high blood pressure
High blood pressure is the most common of all health problems in adults
Hypertension means the pressure of blood against the walls of the arteries is higher than normal
Uncontrolled high blood pressure may lead to hardening of the arteries and kidney disease
Causes: heredity, high sodium intake, obesity, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol, stress and oral contraceptive drugs (in women who are predisposed
 High blood pressure can be controlled with medication
No heat packs should be applied to the trunk of the body clients with high blood pressure
should not be allowed to take saunas, whirl pools or steam cabinets
Hypotension (low blood pressure)
Hypotension is an abnormal drop in blood pressure when a person gets up from lying down to a standing position.
Dizziness or fainting may occur
If a client has low blood pressure they should get up very slowly and be supported while rising
Angina
Chest pain associated with deficiency of blood going to the heart
This is usually caused by blockages of the arteries to the heart and may be brought on by exertion or stress
It is often mistaken for indigestion
Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
The heart is completely deprived of blood
 Onset is usually sudden with severe pain which may radiate down the left arm and possibly into the jaw 
Women often suffer a typical symptoms including nausea and vomiting or shortness of breath and may not experience chest pain
With no blood supply areas of the cardiac muscle die and there’s damage to the heart muscle and the person may not survive the attack if treatment is not received promptly
Cardiovascular accident (Stroke)
A stroke is an acute, local neurological deficit from an interruption of blood flow in a blood vessel in the brain
This causes brain cells to die
The outcome depends on the number of brain cells that die and where they are located
Damage to the left side of the brain will cause deficits to the right side of the body
May be fatal
Damage to specific brain cells will cause specific physical and mental deficiencies
The person may have paralysis or weakness in the arms and legs they may have difficulty being able to speak
Phlebitis
Is an inflammation of the veins caused by infection or injury, and is the most common also increase the chances of clock formation and result in pulmonary embolism
