Anatomy and Physiology of

Blood
BLOOD FORMATION
The formation of blood cells begins in the fetal yolk sac as early as week
2 of intrauterine life. By month 2 of intrauterine life, the liver and spleen begin
forming blood components. At approximately month 4, the bone marrow
becomes and remains the active center for the origination of blood cells.
 Blood function
 Transport of nutrients, gases, waste, hormone
 Regulation of pH
 Defense against pathogens and toxins
 Regulation of body temperature
 Blood Components
Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells)
Thrombocytes (Platelets)
Leukocytes (White Blood Cells)
Plasma
1.Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells)
• Erythrocytes (red blood cells) function chiefly to transport
oxygen to and carry carbon dioxide from body cells. RBCs are
formed under the stimulation of erythropoietin.
• life span (about 120 days), erythrocytes are destroyed through
phagocytosis by reticuloendothelial cells, found in the highest
proportion in the spleen.
• RBCs are formed from the bone marrow after it is stimulated by
erythropoietin released by the kidneys.
Hemoglobin
The component of RBCs that allows them to carry out the
transport of oxygen is hemoglobin, a complex protein. Hemoglobin
is composed of globin, a protein (like all proteins) dependent on
nitrogen metabolism for its formation, and heme, an iron-
containing pigment. After hemolysis, heme is being recycled to be
used as an ingredient to produce new RBC.
1. Leukocytes (white blood cells WBC)
• Leukocytes (white blood cells WBC) are nucleated cells. They are few in number
compared with RBCs, with approximately 1 WBC to every 500 RBCs. Their primary
function is defense against antigen invasion.
• A typical white cell count is 5000 to 10,000 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. The
WBC count in newborns is approximately 20,000 per cubic millimeter, a high level caused
of trauma of birth. In the newborn, granulocytes are the most common WBCs by 14 to
30 days of life, the total WBC count falls to approximately 12,000 per cubic millimeter,
and lymphocytes become the dominant type. By 4 years of age, the WBC count reaches
an adult level (5000 to 10,000 per cells/mm3), and granulocytes are again the dominant
type. Leukocytes are produced in response to need. Their life span varies from
approximately 6 hours to unknown intervals
3.Thrombocytes (Platelets)
When blood is centrifuged in a test tube, plasma rises to the
top as a clear yellow fluid; red cells sink to the bottom as a dark-red
paste. Between these two layers a thin white strip (often termed a
buffy coat) forms that consists of the WBCs and thrombocytes are
round, non-nucleated bodies formed by the bone marrow. Their
function is primary coagulation. The normal range is 150,000 to
450,000 per cubic millimeter after the first year. Immature
thrombocytes are termed megakaryocytes. If large numbers of these
are present in serum, it indicates that rapid production of platelets is
occurring.