Blood and Functions of Blood

Blood is a fluid connective tissue. Blood cells are known as Corpuscles. Blood
always exists from the pre occurring blood cells
Blood lacks fibers.
It is heavier than water
PH in between 7.3 to 7.4
It is more viscous than water
The matrix of the blood is plasma
Blood constitutes 2 main components plasma and corpuscles.
Composition of Blood
lood

Bloodelements
Formed corpuscles
of blood
Plasma

Erythrocytes Leucocytes Thrombocytes

(RBCs) (WBC’s) (Blood platelets)

Granulocytes Agranulocytes

Eosinophils Basophils Neutrophils Monocytes Lymphocytes

Plasma
Plasma is a viscous aqueous solution which is slightly alkaline.
It contains many organic and inorganic substances and it has about 92 % of water
and 8% of solid salts (or) solutes
The solute includes glucose, Aminoacid, Fatty acids, Vitamins, Enzymes,
Harmones, Antibodies, oxygen, urea, uric acid & creatinine etc.
Out of the 8% solid content, 7% is the organic component and 1% inorganic
content.
Plasma contains 3 major classes of plasma proteins with in its 7% content :-
(i) Albumin (4.4 %)
(ii) Globulin (2.3 %)
(iii) Fibrinogen (0.3 %)
Albumin is also known as serum albumin.
Globulin is responsible for formation of Antibodies.
Fibrinogen whose content is very low helps in blood clotting.
Blood plasma retains water due to presence of Albumin and Globulin by their
osmotic effects.
Whenever excessive amount of plasma protein is filtered out of the blood it leads
to swelling (or) oedema
Albumin and globulin transports various substances such as thyroxin, ferric ions,
Fe3+ etc.
Globulins have a category called Immunoglobulins which basically act as
antibody. These antibodies inactivate micro-organisms and other toxins.
Plasma maintains the blood pH by neutralizing strong acid and bases which is
dissolve as inorganic constituents Hence plasma acts as acid base buffers

Functions of Plasma
1. Plasma helps in transportation of various chemicals, Harmones , ions etc.
2. Plasma provides body immunities through immunoglobulins.
3. It helps in retention of fluid in the blood
4. It helps in maintenance of blood pH
5. It helps in uniform distribution of heat all over the body.
6. It conducts heat to skin for dissipation.

Blood Corpuscles
Blood cells are known as corpuscles
It forms 40% - 45% of the whole blood
Blood corpuscles are of 3 types -
(i) RBC
(ii) WBC

RBC (Red blood corpuscles) or [Erythrocytes]

RBC are present in all the vertebrates .They are nucleated except in mammals.
The shape and size of erythrocytes vary in different class of animals. In humans
these are circular, biconcave and non nucleated.
Human RBC measures 7 – 8 m.
Whenever human erythrocytes mature, it is devoid of all the organelles including
nucleus, mitochondria, etc. It is only constituent of a cytoplasm and plasma
lemma surrounding is.
The entire volume of cell is filled with oxygen adhering pigment called
Haemoglobin.
Haemoglobin is scattered through out the cell and appears to be red hence the cell
is known as RBC. [Hemoglobin is a conjugate protein. The main protein is called
globin and the complex protein with the ferrous (Fe+) complex is called heam.
The haemoglobin pigment capacity to bind 4 molecules of oxygen to its 4 Ferrous
ions Hence it forms oxyhemoglobin.

When oxygen pressure is low oxygen dissociates from the Haemoglobin and CO2
replaces it which is called deoxyhaemoglobin. Hence, Hemoglobin carries oxygen
and CO2. Carbondioxide is mainly carried by plasma and the RBC Haemoglobin
is a respiratory pigment which is attached by coordination bonding to the O2.

WBC (White Blood corpuscles-Leukocytes) (leuko -white)

These are non-haemoglobin containing cells comparatively larger than the RBC
and appear to be colourless.
They can perform ameboid movements
Their main function is to defend the body..
If the number of WBCs increase abnormally it leads to Leukemia [Blood cancer]
But if the number declines it leads to leucopenia

WBCs are of two types

(a) Granulocytes [ with cytoplasmic granules]
(b) Agranulocytes [ without granules in the cytoplasm (or) with a very low % of
granules]

(a) Granulocytes :
Granules are 68%
Granulocytes are further categorized into 3 types
(i) Acidophils (Eosinophils) (ii) Basophilis (iii) Neutrophils

(i) Acidophils (or) Eosinophils

They have bilobed nucleus.
They can be stained by acidic dyes.
They show hypersensitivity of the body.

(ii) Basophils
These are minimum in the WBCs.
Nucleus is less distinct.
They represent most cells.
They secretes Histamine, Heparin, and serotonin,

(iii) Neutrophils
These does not retain any of the dyes (neither acidic nor basic)
They are more in no in WBC.
There nucleus is multilobed
Neutrophils are phagocytic (feeder) in nature
Its number always increases during pus formation (or) bacterial infection.
(b) Agranulocytes
Granules are 32% if present
Granules are either absent or in very low percentage
Agranulocytes are produced in the lymph glands like spleen, thymus etc.
Agranulocytes are divided into 2 parts
Lymphocytes, Monocytes
 LYMPHOCYTES
These are the smallest WBCs.
Nucleus is central
Life span is of 3 days
Life span is of 3 days
It produces chemical called Antibodies
PLASMA
Plasma is a viscous solution containing
organic and inorganic substances
Plasma can coagulate due to presence of
Fibrinogen.
Plasma contains normal no. of RBCs
and platelets.
BLOOD
Blood consists of plasma, leukocyte,
erythrocytes and platelets.
Blood appears to be red due to
hemoglobin
Glucose concentration is less is blood
Blood carries several materials in the
body
The amount of CO2 and other metabolic
waste are normal in the blood.
The percentage of ions (Ca2+ and
Phosphorous) can be more in the blood
with the dissolve metabolized.
Thrombocytes (or) Platelets
MONOCYTES
These are the largest WBCs.
Nucleus is horse shoe shaped.
Life span is of 28 days
Life span is of 28 days
They are phagocytic (engulfing) in
nature
SERUM
Serum is the blood plasma without
fibrinogen protein
Serum can not coagulate due t
the absence of fibrinogen
It has less no of RBCs and platelets
LYMPH
It consists of plasma and leukocyte.
Lymph appears to be transparent due to
leukocytes.
Glucose concentration is higher in lymph
Lymph transfers material from the blood to
the body cell.
The metabolic wastes are much more in the
lymph.
The percentage of ions (Ca2+ phosphorous
and other protein) can be normal in the
lymph
 Platelets are also called thrombocytes They are non nucleated, rounded, oval,
biconvex, disc likes cells whose number is 3 lacks/mm3 of blood. They bud
(form) out from cytoplasm of megakaryocyte of the bone marrow. They are
responsible for coagulation of the blood and they have life span of 5 to 6 days
when blood vessel injured they clump at the injured part and release certain
factors also known as coagulating factors They promote coagulation and hence
helps in preventing the blood loss.

FUNCTIONS OF BLOOD
1. Blood transports many substances from one part of the body to the other part.
Blood helps in transport of various chemicals, hormones, ions, food materials
(from intestine to the various body parts), and respiratory gases (i.e., O2 from
lungs to various tissues and CO2 from various tissue to lung.)
2. Blood helps in uniform distribution of heat all over the body.
3. The fluid of blood (plasma) helps in retention of water in the blood.
4. Blood helps in transport of excretory substance (urea ) from tissues to the
excretory organs.
5. Blood maintains the body temperature by distribution of heat.
6. Blood helps in maintaining water balance in the body by exchange of water
between
circulating flood and tissue fluid.
7. Blood helps in maintenance of pH of the body because it has lot of inorganic
substance or ions dissolve in plasma which neutralize acid (or) base.
8. Blood (RBCs of blood) capture the oxygen and carbondioxide by
haemoglobin and hence, helps in respiration.
9. White blood corpuscles are defensive in function. It provide immunity to the
body and secrete various antibodies to kill foreign microorganism.
10. Blood contains various anticoagulant substances like heparin, antithrombin
etc. These
chemicals does not allow to coagulate the blood. That is, It prevents internal
bleeding.
11. The platelets of blood prevent excessive loss of blood by clotting it during
injuries.