Blood

1. What are the main functions of blood?

A. Transports O2, CO2, nutrients, wastes, & hormones

B. Regulates body temperature and pH

C. Protection by: 1. stopping fluid loss by clotting

2. protects against disease

2. What is blood made of?

Plasma

water

Plasma proteins

1% carbs, lipids, vitamins, hormones, & electrolytes

Cells

3. Name the 3 types of blood cells & their function.

1. Red Blood Cells

transport gases

2. White Blood Cells

protect against disease

3. Platelets

clot blood

4. Where are RBCs made? What is their structure?

Made in Red Bone Marrow by stem cells

No nucleus or organelles

bi-concave shape

so they are lighter & travel faster

also allows them to hold more O2

5. How do RBCs carry oxygen?

RBCs contain hemoglobin - an oxygen carrying protein

Hemoglobin contains iron which has a positive charge that attracts oxygen which has a negative charge (Fe2+ & O2-)

gives blood its red color

Did YOU know??

An individual blood cell takes about 60 seconds to make a complete circuit of the body!

6. Where are WBCs made? What is their general structure & function?

Made from stem cells in red bone marrow and in the spleen

Larger than RBCs and contains a nucleus

Short life-span (a few hours to a few days) due to their ‘rough job’ duties

Destroys foreign and dead cells as well as makes antibodies

WBCs are outnumbered by RBCs 700 to 1!

7. What are platelets? What do they do?

Cell fragments that help clot blood

Super small with no nucleus

Lifespan = 5-9 days

Did YOU know???

Feeling hot, Hot, HOT!!

Blood temperature is approximately 100oF! (about 1.5 degrees hotter than normal body temperature).

8. What is Blood clotting? What are the steps?

STOP the bleeding! (aka blood clotting)

Steps to healing a broken blood vessel:

1. Blood vessel spasm: to lessen blood loss

2. Platelet Aggregation: platelets stick to broken portion of the vessel and to each other.

3. Platelet Plug: All of the platelets form a plug that can stop blood loss

http://health.howstuffworks.com/adam-200077.htm