1. ANATOMY
Unit 3 Notes:
Blood
Composition

2. (1) Blood
• Purpose:
Transport nutrients and waste throughout
the body to their designated locations.
• Contains living and nonliving components:
– Living = Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells
– Nonliving = Platelets, Proteins, Plasma,
Inorganic Compounds

4. (2) Blood Cells & Parts
• Red Blood Cells = Erythrocytes
– Carry oxygen-containing gases
– Use protein hemoglobin to bind with gases
• White Blood Cells = Leukocytes
– Part of Immune System
– Protect body against infectious agents
• Platelets
– Fragments of red blood cells
– Aid in clotting

7. (3) Plasma
• The liquid portion of blood.
• Made of mostly water, and various proteins
and inorganic compounds (like salts and
sugars).
• Important Plasma Proteins:
– Albumin  Regulates osmotic pressure within
blood.
– Fibrinogen and Globulin  Aids in clotting.

9. (4) White Blood Cell Specialties
• White blood cells must be able to reach any
area in body with infection.
• Leukocytes use:
– Positive Chemotaxis  To locate infectious
agents within body using the antibody-antigen
response system.
– Diapedesis  To travel through organs to reach
the infectious agents.

11. (5) Types of White Blood Cells
• Neutrophils:
– The most common and active.
– First to respond to an infection site.
• Basophils:
– Release histamine during infection.
– Histamine dilates the blood vessels to increase
blood flow.

12. • Lymphocytes: Use antibodies and antigens.
– B Lymphocytes  Produce antibodies to ID
foreign cells.
– T Lymphocytes  Respond to antibodies and
find foreign cells.
• Monocytes:
– Present during chronic infection.
– A last responder when other white blood cells
did not work.
• Eosinophils:
– Attack and engulf larger parasitic organisms.

16. (6) Anemia
• Anemia is when oxygen is not being carried to
tissues.
• Causes for Anemia:
–
–
–
–
Misshapen red blood cells
Low hemoglobin concentration
Low blood cell count
General lack of oxygen in system
• Symptoms:
–
–
–
–
Excruciating pains throughout the body.
Extreme fatigue.
Low endurance during physical activity.
Loss of body heat easily.

17. • Sickle Cell Anemia:
– Red blood cells are sickled shaped.
– Cannot bind with oxygen and often clog up
blood vessels.
• Hereditary Spherocytosis:
– Red blood cells balloon out like basketballs.
– Cannot bind with oxygen and are destroyed by
the spleen.