Blood Components Flashcards
Blood components
- Red blood cells
- White blood cells
- Platelets
- Plasma
What percent of blood is fluid and what percent is cells
55% of blood is fluid and 45% of blood is cells
Plasma
(55%) = fluid; 90% water and 10% dissolved substances( proteins, vitamins, glucose, ions, and waste products)
Blood cells
(45%)- red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets
Red blood cells (erythrocytes)
- make up 99% of blood cells
- main function is to transport oxygen, each rbc can have 4 oxygen molecules
- contains the pigment hemoglobin
- called oxyhemoglobin when its bounded to oxygen and is bright red
- has no nucleus and is produced in the bone marrow
- when they die they are absorbed in the liver
Anemia
- you have too few red blood cells or too little hemoglobin
- less oxygen is transported
- may be caused by an iron deficiency
- symptoms may include feeling tired, pale skin, dizziness and chest pain
White blood cells ( leukocytes)
- Larger than red blood cells
- around 1% of blood
- one wbc for every 600 rbc
- responsible for defence
- has a nucleus and is non uniform in shape
Leukaemia
- Bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells
- Symptoms may include fatigue, fever, bleeding or swollen lymph nodes
Platelets
- Have no nucleus
- fragments of cells form when larger cells in the bone marrow split apart
- Irregular shaped, very fragile and responsible for blood clotting reactions
- enzyme reactions attract platelets
- fibrin traps red blood cells forming a clot
- symptoms include joint pain and bleeding
Cardiovascular diseases and disorders
- Atherosclerosis - hardening of arteries
- Coronary heart disease - restricted blood flow to arteries
- Heart attack - no blood flow to coronary arteries
- Stroke - no blood flow to brain
- Aneurism - bulging of artery or vein
- Septal defect - septum closed
- Valvular heart disease- disease of heart valves
Plaque and cholesterol
- cholesterol that is deposited on the artery is called plaque
- LDL fats are “bad” because they are responsible for carrying cholesterol to body cells which leads to build up in the artery
- HDL’s are “good” because they take cholesterol away to the liver ( found in fish )
Immune system
- Pathogen, something that causes diseases can enter the body in many ways
Protozoans
Single celled organisms that live as parasites (malaria)
Fungi
Live off remains of dead or decaying material (mold, mushrooms)
Eg. athletes foot
Bacteria
Single celled organism that lacks a membrane bound nucleus or membrane or membrane bound organelles
Eg. food poisoning
antibiotics
Antibiotics fight bacteria infections only
Viruses
Extremely tiny particles that are not considered living organisms
Eg. HIV, COVID
