“Composition of Blood”
“Capabilities of Blood”
“Blood Transfusion”
“Blood Teams”
What’s Blood?
Blood is a crucial physique fluid that performs an important function in sustaining the well being and performance of the physique. It’s composed of a liquid known as plasma, and a number of other sorts of cells suspended within the plasma, together with purple blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
“Composition of Blood”
The composition of blood varies barely relying on the particular function of the blood cells and plasma. Nevertheless, generally, blood consists of the next:
Plasma: Plasma is the liquid portion of blood, which makes up about 55% of the whole quantity of blood. It’s a clear, yellowish fluid that incorporates water, proteins, hormones, enzymes, and different substances. The proteins in plasma embrace albumin, which helps to manage the motion of fluids within the physique, and globulins, which have numerous capabilities, together with immune protection.
Crimson blood cells: Crimson blood cells, also referred to as erythrocytes, make up about 40% of the whole quantity of blood. They’re chargeable for carrying oxygen from the lungs to the physique’s tissues, and are important for sustaining the physique’s oxygen provide. Crimson blood cells are formed like biconcave discs and are wealthy in a protein known as hemoglobin, which binds to oxygen and helps to move it within the bloodstream.
White blood cells: White blood cells, also referred to as leukocytes, make up a small proportion of the whole quantity of blood. They’re a part of the physique’s immune system and play an important function in defending the physique in opposition to an infection and illness. There are a number of sorts of white blood cells, every with a particular operate, resembling combating micro organism, viruses, and different pathogens.
Platelets: Platelets, also referred to as thrombocytes, are small, irregularly formed cells that play a key function in blood clotting. They’re important for stopping bleeding and selling therapeutic after an damage. Platelets are shaped within the bone marrow and are launched into the bloodstream when they’re wanted.
“Capabilities of Blood”
Blood performs a number of necessary capabilities within the physique, together with:
Transport: Blood transports oxygen, vitamins, and hormones to the physique’s tissues and organs, and carries waste merchandise and carbon dioxide away from the tissues.
Regulation: Blood helps to manage the physique’s pH and temperature, and helps to keep up the stability of fluids and electrolytes within the physique.
Safety: Blood performs an important function within the physique’s immune protection, by carrying white blood cells and antibodies to the location of an an infection or damage.
Clotting: Blood has the power to clot, which helps to forestall bleeding and promote therapeutic after an damage.
“Blood Transfusion”
A blood transfusion is a medical process through which blood or blood merchandise are transferred from one individual (the donor) to a different (the recipient). Blood transfusions are used to deal with quite a lot of circumstances, together with anemia, bleeding issues, and trauma.
There are a number of sorts of blood transfusions, together with:
Entire blood transfusion: This entails transfusing the entire parts of blood, together with purple blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
Crimson blood cell transfusion: This entails transfusing solely purple blood cells, that are used to deal with anemia or different circumstances that trigger a low purple blood cell rely.
Plasma transfusion: This entails transfusing solely plasma, which is used to deal with circumstances resembling bleeding issues or burns.
Cryoprecipitate transfusion: This entails transfusing a frozen focus of sure blood proteins, together with fibrinogen and issue VIII, that are used to deal with bleeding issues.
Earlier than a blood transfusion is carried out, it is very important be sure that the donor and recipient have appropriate blood varieties. Blood typing is a laboratory check that’s used to find out a person’s blood group, primarily based on the presence or absence of particular antigens on the floor of purple blood cells. The commonest blood teams are A, B, AB, and O, and every particular person has a blood group primarily based on the inherited mixture of those antigens.
With a purpose to stop issues, it is very important match the blood group of the donor and recipient as carefully as attainable. If the donor and recipient have incompatible blood varieties, the recipient’s immune system could acknowledge the donor’s purple blood cells as overseas and assault them, resulting in a transfusion response.
“Blood Teams”
As talked about above, the most typical blood teams are A, B, AB, and O. Every of those blood teams is outlined by the presence or absence of particular antigens on the floor of purple blood cells.
Blood group A: People with blood group A have A antigens on their purple blood cells, and anti-B antibodies of their plasma.
Blood group B: People with blood group B have B antigens on their purple blood cells, and anti-A antibodies of their plasma.
Blood group AB: People with blood group AB have each A and B antigens on their purple blood cells, and no antibodies of their plasma.
Blood group O: People with blood group O don’t have any antigens on their purple blood cells, and each anti-A and anti-B antibodies of their plasma.
Along with these 4 blood teams, there’s additionally a uncommon blood group known as RhD damaging, which is outlined by the absence of the RhD antigen on purple blood cells.
You will need to decide a person’s blood group earlier than a blood transfusion or organ transplant, to make sure compatibility and cut back the danger of issues.
Blood quantity: The entire quantity of blood within the physique varies relying on components resembling age, gender, and measurement, however is often about 5 liters (L) in males and 4 L in girls.
Blood cells manufacturing: Blood cells are produced within the bone marrow, which is the spongy tissue contained in the bones. Crimson blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are all produced within the bone marrow, by way of a course of known as hematopoiesis.
Blood issues: There are a number of issues that may have an effect on the manufacturing or operate of blood cells, together with anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. These issues will be brought on by quite a lot of components, together with nutrient deficiencies, infections, and sure drugs.
Blood donation: Blood donation is a protected and easy manner to assist others in want. Donated blood is used to deal with quite a lot of circumstances, together with anemia, bleeding issues, and trauma. In the USA, blood donations are collected by organizations such because the American Crimson Cross and are screened for infectious ailments earlier than being made accessible for transfusion.
Blood transfusion security: Blood transfusions are usually protected, however there’s a small danger of issues, resembling transfusion reactions or infections. To attenuate the danger of issues, donated blood is rigorously screened for infectious ailments, and efforts are made to match the blood sort of the donor and recipient as carefully as attainable.
