ESSENTIAL LIFE SUPPORTIVE FLUID

Blood

FunctionsTransportation

Delivers O2 from Lungs and nutrients from digestive tract to all body cells

Transports the oxygen as oxyhemoglobin and carbon dioxide as carboxyhemoglobin, carbonic acid, and bicarbonate

Transports metabolic waste from cells to elimination sites (lungs, kidneys)

Transports hormonesRegulation

Maintains appropriate body temperature Maintains normal pH Maintains adequate fluid volume with NaCl and other salts acting with

blood proteins (albumin) to prevent excessive fluid lossProtection

Prevents blood loss through clotting mechanism Prevents infection through immunity (phagocytosis and antibody

production)

Blood Facts/characteristics

The average adult has about FIVE liters of blood inside of their body, which makes up 7-8% of their body weight.

pH approximately 7.35 – 7.45Temperature: 38 o C or

100.4 o FThere are about one billion

red blood cells in two to three drops of blood. For every 600 red blood cells, there are about 40 platelets and one white cell.

Composition of BloodPlasma: yellowish liquid portion of blood that

contains electrolytes, nutrients, vitamins, hormones, clotting factors, and proteins such as antibodies to fight infection. (roughly 55%)

Erythrocytes (RBCs): The most abundant cells; produced in the bone marrow and contain a protein called hemoglobin that carries oxygen to all parts of the body (roughly 44%)

Leukocytes (WBCs): part of the immune system; destroy pathogens (<1%)

Thrombocytes (platelets): clotting factors that are carried in the plasma; clot together in a process called coagulation to seal a wound and prevent a loss of blood. (<1%)

Erythrocytes Hemoglobin is a protein

molecule that binds to oxygen. 97% of RBCs made up of this

Hemoglobin forms an unstable, reversible bond with oxygen

In its oxygen-loaded form, it is called oxyhemoglobin

With CO2 attached, carbaminohemoglobin

Heme = red, iron (Fe) combined with O2 gives blood its red color

Lifespan: 100 - 120 Days Spleen: RBC “graveyard” Iron recycled, remainder becomes

bilirubin (yellow pigment) in liver then excreted as bile into the intestines

Plasma Donation

Clotting FactorsImmunoglobulin: There are more than

150 primary immune deficiency disorders . These individuals have improperly functioning immune systems and do not respond to traditional antibiotics. Without IVIG, they are exposed to frequent and often serious infections.

Albumin: used to treat burns, trauma patients and surgical patients.

Hyperimmuneglobulins: used to treat rabies, tetanus, dialysis patients and organ transplant recipients. They are also used to treat pregnant women who have Rh incompatibility

Blood DisordersAnemia: deficiency in the numbers of functional RBCs;

symptoms = impaired breathing, fatigue, muscle weakness Iron deficiency: not enough iron; inability of the body to use iron Aplastic: failure of the bone marrow to produce RBCs due to

poisoning, drugs, radiation Pernicious: RBCs inadequate due to decreased gastric secretion and

vitamin B12 malabsorption; must take B12 shots forever; untreated - certain death

Sickle cell: inherited trait of defective hemoglobin molecule; abnormal sickle shaped RBCs, cells carry less oxygen, break easily, clog vessels; homozygous - severe disease; heterozygous - asymptomatic

Thalassemia: defective synthesis of protein for hemoglobin production; hereditary; several types

Polycythemia: too many RBCs and platelets; thickens blood and increases BP; periodic removal of a unit of blood to thin the blood

Blood Composition

Blood TypesAntigens: chemical structures imparting

specific properties to the surface of the red cell

Antibody: protein substance developed in response to foreign body substances

Blood Group Systems Detected on the basis of specific reaction with

corresponding antibody as a result of the presence or absence of the blood protein antigens on the RBC surface

Inherited according to Mendelian laws

ABO System Discovered by Landsteiner in 1900 Type A = 41% of population

Has A antigens on RBC surface Has anti-B antibodies in plasma

Type B = 10% of population Has B antigens on RBC surface Has anti-A antibodies in plasma

Type AB = 4% of population Has A and B antigens on RBC surface Has NO antibodies in plasma

Type O = 45% of population Has No antigens on the RBC surface Has anti-A and anti-B antibodies in plasma

Type O is the Universal Donor (can be given to Type A, B, AB, and O) because it has No antigens on the RBC surface

Type AB is the Universal Recipient (can receive Type A, B, AB, and O) because it has NO antibodies in the plasma

Universal Donor

Universal Recipient

Blood Genotypes and Phenotypes3 alleles, 6 possible phenotypes

AA and AO are both Type A blood BB and BO are both Type B blood AB is Type AB blood OO is Type O blood

Rhesus FactorThe presence of the protein, or lack of

it, is referred to as the Rh (for Rhesus) factor.

If blood does contain the protein, your blood is said to be Rh positive (Rh+). Genotypes (+/+, +/-)

If blood does not contain the protein, your blood is said to be Rh negative (Rh-). Genotype (-/-)

Rh IncompatibilityWhen Rh- person receives Rh+ blood in a

transfusion, person develops antibodies against the Rh+ factor. This becomes a clinical problem if they receive a second

transfusion of Rh+ blood - Rh antibodies will clump with the Rh antigens.

Symptoms of transfusion reaction: chills and fever, rash, itching, shortness of breath, nausea, kidney pain, blood in urine, shock and death

Occurs in pregnancy - to prevent this a shot of Rhogam is given shortly after birth to block the development of antibodies.