Blood is a specialized body-fluid in animals

which delivers necessary substances such as

nutrients and oxygen to cells and transports
metabolic waste products away from the cells
It consists of fluid matrix , plasma and formed
elements
Plasma
a straw coloured
Viscous fluid
55 % of the blood
Contains:
Water = 93%
Proteins = 6-8%
Most abundant plasma proteins: albumins, globulins,
and fibrinogen
 Albumins
Help in osmotic balance
Globulins
are involved in defense mechanisms of the body.

Fibrinogen
Essential in process of blood clotting
 Erythrocytes
Known as red blood cells (RBC)
biconcave-shape
No nucleus in mature red blood cell

Main component = haemoglobin

Primary function = transport oxygen to cells of body

Average life span = approximately 120 days

 Leucocytes
Known as white blood cells (WBC)
Mature WBC has a nucleus
does not have haemoglobin

Two categories

granulocytes
agranulocytes
Granulocytes have granules in their cytoplasm
Agranulocytes have no granules in their cytoplasm
 Neutrophils
Most abundant cells of WBC

Phagocytic in nature which destroy foreign organisms entering the

body
Basophils
Least abundant of all WBCs

Secrete histamine during allergic reactions

Secrete heparin a natural anticoagulant

Involved in inflammatory reactions

 Eosinophils
Constitute approximately 2-3 percent of all WBCs

Resist infections and are also affected with

allergic reactions
 Lymphocytes
Constitute approximately 20-25 percent of all WBCs

Are of two types

B type
T type

Both B and T forms are responsible for immune

responses of the body
 Thrombocytes
cells fragments produced from megakaryocytes

Also known as platelets

Contain no heamoglobin

Essential for normal clotting of blood

 Blood Type A
Has A-antigen present on RBC

Has Anti-B antibody present in plasma

Blood Type B
Has B-antigen present on RBC

Has Anti-A antibody present in plasma

 Blood Type AB
Has AB-antigens present on RBC

Has no antibodies present in plasma

Blood Type O
Has no antigens present on RBC

Has both anti-A and Anti-B antibodies present in

plasma
 Universal Donor Blood
Type O

No A antigens or B antigens present on its RBCs

Universal Recipient Blood

Type AB

No anti-A or Anti-B antigens present in its plasma

 Rh Positive (Rh+)
Rh antigen is present on the RBC

Rh Negative (Rh-)
Rh antigen not present on the RBC
If an Rh negative women bears an Rh positive foetus, at the time
of delivery of the first child, when foetal blood comes in contact
with the mothers blood , anti-Rh antibodies are formed by the
mothers blood.
 These antibodies remain in the blood of the mother for a
long period of time
If a second Rh- positive foetus is given birth by the
mother, then the anti Rh- antibodies in the mothers
blood enter the foetal circulation and destroy the RBCs,
it results in jaundice and severe anaemia in the new born.
Such a condition is known as erythroblastosis foetalis.
 Clotting of blood = coagulation
Injury to blood vessel creates roughened area in vessel

Platelets come in contact with rough spot and

disintegrate
Release substance called thromboplastin

Thromboplastin converts prothrombin into thrombin

In presence of calcium ions and other clotting factors

Thrombin converts fibrinogen into fibrin

Fibrin threads form a mesh that forms the clot