Bio NOTES: The Biology of Blood The average healthy male has 5 to 6 quarts of blood. The average healthy female has 4 to 5 quarts of blood. Blood takes up 7-8% of your body weight. Red blood cells can live up to 120 days. There are about one billion red blood cells in a few drops of blood. It takes about 60 seconds for a blood cell to travel the entire body. Your body is creating and killing 15 million red blood cells every second. The first blood transfusion occurred in the 1600’s, by adding animal blood to humans – it proved disastrous! 25% of all blood products are used to treat cancer patients. Someone needs blood every two seconds. Charles Drew set up first blood bank in England discovered method for preserving blood for longer periods of time

Components of blood: 1. plasma – 55% of blood, made of 92% water 2. red blood cells – 40-50% of blood, transport oxygen to cells and take away CO2 3. white blood cells – less than 1% of blood, part of the immune system 4. platelets – less than 1% of blood, fight infection, help blood clot **blood also contains nutrients, hormones and waste products erythrocyte/red blood cell (left), thrombocyte/platelet(center), and leukocyte/white blood cell (right ) red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets made in the bone marrow

* 85% of people are Rh-positive. Rh-positive = contain the Rh antigen Rh-negative = no antigen present Blood type (or blood group) is determined, in part, by the ABO blood group antigens present on red blood cells. Red blood cells may contain another antigen, named after the Rhesus monkey that was studied. most common blood type = rarest blood type = O+ AB-

Blood Transfusions If you need a blood transfusion because of surgery or an accident, it is very important that you receive the correct blood type. If you receive the wrong type of blood, your blood will clot and death may occur! Type A will clump when type B blood is added to it The universal donor = The universal recipient = Type O Type AB What if you don’t know the patient’s blood type?

Who Donates Blood in the United States? Median Age 38 years old Male 53% of Red Cross donors Female 47% of Red Cross donors Repeat donors 79.3% of Red Cross donors First-time donors 20.7% of Red Cross donors Amount of blood needed for each scenario: One out of every 10 people admitted in a hospital needs blood. 1 standard unit or pint of blood equals about two cups. Blood can be donated as whole blood, or as specific components, such as platelets or plasma. Blood Donations Severe burn – 20 units of platelets Liver transplant – 40 units of RBC, 30 units of platelets, 25 units plasma Car accident – 50 units or more of red blood cells Bone marrow transplant – 120 units of platelets, 20 units of RBC Storage of blood: RBC’s must be used within 42 days frozen RBC’s can be stored for 10+ years platelets must be used within 5 days frozen plasma can be stored for up to one year

Blood Disorders Anemia Sickle Cell Anemia common blood disorder where there is a low level of red blood cells also a drop in hemoglobin, the protein in RBC’s that distributes oxygen to cells Symptoms: fatigue, irregular menstration, breathlessness Treatment: blood transfusion, bone marrow transplant, treat the cause (infection) red blood cells are sickle shaped because of defective hemoglobin cells tend to cluster and cause blockages in vessels sickle cells die after 10 to 20 days Treatment: blood transfusions, pain meds, bone marrow transplant Symptoms: anemia, pain crisis from a blockage, acute chest syndrome that resembles pneumonia *this disorder is present in one in every 500 African-Americans*

Hemophilia Leukemia Hemochromatosis also called iron overload disease causes increased absorption of iron, which is deposited in the body tissues and organs iron accumulates where it may be toxic and cause damage Treatment: diet modification, periodic removal of blood from body cancer of the blood cells, usually the white blood cells these cells look different than normal cells and do not function properly Symptoms: frequent infections, anemia, swollen lymph nodes, loss of weight and appetite, sweating Treatment: transfusion of RBC and platelets, chemo and radiation decreases the body’s ability to create blood clots Symptoms: bruising, bleeds easily, bleeding into joints and muscles Treatment: blood transfusions, addition of clotting factors

Cord Blood Banking Refers to the collection, processing and preservation of blood obtained from the umbilical cord and placenta of a baby after birth. umbilical cord blood contains stem cells stem cells = cells early in development that can be made into any type of blood cell that a scientist chooses can be used to treat dozens of life-threatening diseases, such as leukemia, sickle cell anemia and cancer Types of Banking: public – free, available to anyone private – expensive, stores your own personal sample - can cost as much as $3,500 stem cells from cord blood are frozen in liquid nitrogen and can be stored indefinitely the collection is completely painless and poses no physical risks for mother or infant