Chapter 17- Blood Assignment -part 1 - Chapter 17 Blood...

Chapter 17: Blood Assignment
For this assignment, please read the chapter and answer the questions below. Please type
your answers in red or blue color.
Please note that points may be deducted if answers are not submitted in these colors.
There is a tutorial on blood cells in Blackboard under the Lab Tutorial button. Use
it to study the different kinds of blood cells. Under the External Links button
Blood Functions :
Understand the following functions of Blood.
i) Transport Nutrients, Hormones, Wastes
ii) Regulates Body Temperature
iii) Provides Protection (Immune Response, Hemostasis)
Blood Composition: write a short description of each of the following components of blood
Plasma- Blood plasma is a mixture of proteins, enzymes, nutrients, wastes, hormones and gases.
Proteins- These are the most abundant substance in plasma by weight and play a part in a variety
of roles including clotting, defense and transport.
Electrolytes- The most abundant of these are sodium ions, which account for more of the blood’s
osmolarity than any other solute.
Gases- Some oxygen and carbon dioxide are transported by plasma. Plasma also contains a
substantial amount of dissolved nitrogen.
Water- Functions as a solvent for blood, in transport, temperature regulation, and serves as a site
of metabolic reactions.
Nutrients- Those absorbed by the digestive tract are transported in the blood plasma. These
include glucose, amino acids, fats, cholesterol, phospholipids, vitamins and minerals.
Wastes- Being toxic end products of the breakdown of substances in the body, these are usually
cleared from the bloodstream and are excreted by the kidneys at a rate that balances their
production.
Formed Elements (cells): Briefly describe the functions for the following cells:
Table 17.2 on page 644 in the textbook gives you a summary of the formed elements of the blood.
1

Erythrocytes- Carry oxygen from the lungs to your body’s tissue and take carbon dioxide back to
your lungs to be exhaled.
Leukocytes- Leukocytes are the first line of defense of the immune system. Leukocytes are
derived from bone marrow stem cells and have three main categories: Lymphocytes, Phagocytes,
and Auxiliary Cells. Neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils are called granulocytes because they
have granules in their cytoplasm.
Platelets- The principal function of platelets is to prevent bleeding.
Red Blood Cell (RBC) = Erythrocyte :
Figure 17.7 on page 638 in the textbook reviews the life cycle of RBC’s
Red blood cells (erythrocytes) are biconcave disks and this shape increases the _____ increase RC
count _ of the cell and maximizes diffusion of gases. Watch the hemoglobin animation in the
course documents.
The ______ hemoglobin _______ protein binds oxygen in RBCs.
When oxygen combines with hemoglobin, it forms bright red_______
oxyhemoglobin
__.