Blood

Question 1

What are the functions of blood?

Answer 1

Transportation: O2, nutrients, hormones, heat, waste products

Regulation: pH through use of buffers, body temperature (heat-absorbing/coolant properties of water in blood plasma, variable rate of flow through the skin), water content of cells influenced by blood osmotic pressure

Protection: blood loss (clotting), disease (phagocytic white blood cells, antibodies)

Question 2

What are the components of the blood?

Answer 2

• plasma (liquid ECM): 55% of whole blood, water, proteins (albumin, fibrinogen, globulins, other), glucose, hormones, ions, metabolites, lipids, etc.
• leukocytes (WBC) and platelets (<1% of whole body); buffy coat
• erythrocytes (45% of whole blood)
• last two make up the formed elements

Question 3

What is included in a CBC?

Answer 3

Question 4

Where is a blood sample obtained from?

Answer 4

• venipuncture with vacutainer
• finger/heal stick
• measure blood from brachial artery which gives info about blood gases
• arterial stick