Blood & Blood Vessels

Aims & Objectives

To describe different blood cell types. To explain plasma (serum & its difference with plasma) & its composition. To outline the structures & properties of the three main types of blood vessels, namely, arteries, veins & capillaries. Clinical relevance: supply of O2, nutrients & removal of waste products,functioning immune system..

Functions of Blood
Maintenance of homeostasis: 1. Transport of gases, nutrients & waste products. 2. Transport of processed molecules. 3. Transport of regulatory molecules. 4. Regulation of pH & osmosis. 5. Maintenance of body temperature. 6. Protection against foreign substances. 7. Clot formation. Transport/ distribution, regulation (body temperature, pH, fluid volume), protection (blood loss, infection).

Composition of Blood
Connective tissue cells & cell fragments (formed elements) surrounded by liquid matrix (plasma) Total blood volume (whole blood), ~ 4 to 5 L (females), 5 to 6 L (males) Plasma pale yellow fluid, ~91% water, 7% proteins, 2% other substances: ions (ECF), nutrients, gases, waste products, regulatory substances. Plasma proteins albumin (58%)- Oncotic pressure globulins (38%)-transport protein fibrinogen (4%), clotting factors Serum = plasma minus clotting factors (used up to form clots).

Composition of Blood
O2 enters blood in lungs, CO2 from tissues Formed elements : erythrocytes/ red blood cells/ RBCs; leukocytes/ white blood cells/ WBCs thrombocytes /platelets % packed RBCs (after spinning/ centrifugation) = hematocrit, indication of anemia.

Formed Elements of Blood

RBC biconcave, no nucleus, contains hemoglobin (Hb) red colour, 7.5 microm diam transports O2 & CO2, pH regulation duration of development (DD) 5-7 days, life span (LS) 100-120 days. WBC with nucleus, (no Hb) 5 types, each with specific functions: Granulocytes: (1) neutrophil nucleus 2 to 4 lobes, cytoplasmic granules light pink/ reddish purple, 10-12 microm diam phagocytizes microorganisms & other substances (2) basophil nucleus with 2 distinct lobes, granules blue-purple, 1012 microm diam releases histamine & other mediators of inflammation, & heparin which prevents clot formation/ anticoagulant (3) eosinophil nucleus often bilobed, granules orange-red/ bright red, 11-14 microm diam, kills parasitic worms, destroys Ag-Ab complexes, inactivates some inflammatory chemicals of allergy

Formed Elements of Blood

Agranulocytes: (4) lymphocyte round nucleus, thin ring of cytoplasm (pale blue) around nucleus, 6-14 microm diam , mount immune response by direct cell attack or via antibodies, allergic reactions, graft rejection, tumor control, regulation of immune system (5) monocyte nucleus round/ kidney/ horseshoe/ Ushaped, pale blue cytoplasm, 12-20 microm diam, phagocytic cell in blood, leaves blood to become tissue macrophage (bacteria, dead cells, cell fragments/ debris Platelets/ thrombocytes discoid cytoplasmic fragments with granules, deep purple, 2-4 microm diam, seal small tears in blood vessels/ platelet plugs, blood clotting DD 4-5 days, LS 5-10 days.

WBC Count
Differential WBC count - % different types of leukocytes in blood sample : N (50-70%), E (2-4%), B (0.5-1%), L (25-45%), M (3-8%). Descending order: Never Let Monkey Eat Bananas.

Formed Elements of Blood & Their Origins

Formed Elements of Blood

Formed Elements of Blood

Blood Vessels
Peripheral circulation, heart as central pump. Functions of circulation to carry blood to all tissues & back to heart; exchange nutrients & gases (between blood & all tissues); transport (eg hormones, clotting factors, enzymes); regulate blood pressure (+ heart action BP within normal range); direct blood flow as required by tissue need. Systemic vessels all parts of body from left ventricle back to right atrium (+ coronary vessels supplying heart itself). Pulmonary vessels to lungs from right ventricle to left atrium. Systemic + pulmonary = peripheral circulation, closed circuit. Central=heart.

Circulatory System

Overview of Blood Vessel Structures & Functions

3 major types arteries (As), capillaries (Cs), veins (Vs). From heart into large artery, then into successively smaller arteries to smallest branches (arterioles), then into capillaries (in organs & tissues, close to cells), then into smallest veins (venules), into larger & larger veins that merge into large veins emptying into heart - ~ 100,000 km (60,000 miles). Systemic circulation Arteries high O2, Veins low O2, opposite in pulmonary circulation.

Blood Vessels

Blood Vessels Microcirculation arterioles, capillaries, venules

Arterial vessels
Arteries -Thick, strong wall, 3 layers: endothelium, middle layer of smooth M & elastic tissue, outer layer of connective tissue high pressure elastic/ conducting Arteries, Arterioles thinner wall, still 3 layers, smooth M in middle layer, control blood flow into cap by vasoconstricting/ vasodilating major effect on BP has Sympathetic NS innervation. Highest RESISTANCE Endothelium smooth surface, inhibition of platelet aggregation/ clot, regulation local Blood Flow by secreting vasodilators/ vasoconstrictors.

Capillaries
Thin wall nutrients, gases & wastes exchanged between blood & tissue fluid/ ISF, close intimate contact with cells of tissues/ organs connect arterioles to venules 1 mm length, 8-10 microm diam (diam of RBCs?). Types continuous C (skin, skeletal M), tight junctions between cells, intercellular clefts allow fluid & small solutes through,especially tight in brain (BBB); fenestrated C - endothelial cells with pores/ fenestrations (small intestine for absorption, kidney for glomerular filtration); sinusoidal C/ sinusoids (liver, bone marrow, lymphoid tissues, some endocrine glands) large intercellular clefts to allow large molecules, blood cells - liver: discontinuous endothelium with macrophages (Kuppfer cells).

Metarterioles --thoroughfare channels/ shunts arterioles directly to venules true capillaries/ exchange vessels, precapillary sphincters at metarterioles.

Capillary

Capillary Endothelium

Capillary Endothelium

Exchanges at Capillary

Exchanges at Capillary

Veins
enules thinner walls, less smooth M & elastic tissues than arterioles, connect Cappilaries to veins. Veins thinner walls than arteries, but similar layers, valves (unidirectional Blood Flow), larger lumens, contain large amount of blood (65%) capacitance vessels, blood reservoirs ( venoconstriction pushes blood to heart), low pressure.