Blood Notes 3.1

Blood is composed of Two main Parts Plasma Water (91-92%) Plasma Proteins and clotting factors Electrolytes Cellular Portion Leukocytes (WBC) (5 types) Erythrocytes (RBC) Platelets

Why is water so significant? It’s the Universal Solvent These must be in Dissolved Form to function in the body: Proteins Oxygen Carbon dioxide Sugar Lipids (suspended) Vitamins Hormones

Serum Vs. Plasma Plasma’s is made up of clotting proteins, glucose, nutrients, electrolytes, hormones, antigens, antibodies and other particles Serum is the same as that of plasma, except it does not contain the clotting factors. In short, the relation between serum and plasma can be put as, 'serum = plasma after removal of clotting factors'

Blood Fractionalization Whole blood can be fractionated into: Packed Red Blood Cells (RBC) Plasma Other blood products Platelets Clotting factors

Erythrocytes Red blood cells (non-nucleated) Carry Oxygen to and Carbon Dioxide from the tissues Hemoglobin is the protein that locks on to the oxygen molecules Contain no DNA About 30 trillion in Circulation in human

Leukocytes White blood cells (contain nucleii) Involved in the immune response Help fight infection Contain DNA About 430 billion in Circulation in human (1WBC to every 700RBC)

Blood Groups Determined by antigens (surface proteins) on the surface of the red blood cells Group A has type A antigens Group B has type B antigens Group AB has both type A and type B antigens Group O has no antigens

Group A Has type A antigens Has Anti-B antibodies in plasma Recognizes type A cells as “self” Has Anti-B antibodies in plasma Can take type A infusions Recognizes A as “self” Can take type O infusions Nothing to recognize

Group B Has type B antigens Has Anti-A antibodies in plasma Recognizes type B cells as “self” Has Anti-A antibodies in plasma Can take type B infusions Recognizes B as “self” Can take type O infusions Nothing to recognize

Group AB Has no antibodies in plasma Has type A and type B antigens Recognizes type A and B cells as “self” Has no antibodies in plasma Is the universal recipient because… Can take type A infusions Recognizes A as “self” Can take type B infusions Recognizes B as “self” Can take type AB infusions Recognizes both of them as “self” Can take type O infusions Nothing to recognize

Group O Has no antigens Recognizes nothing “self” Has both Anti-A and Anti-B antibodies in plasma Can take type O infusions Nothing to recognize O is the universal donor

Rhesus Factor Another commonly considered blood factor dissolved in the plasma is Rh. Present = (+) Absent = (-) Is significant consideration when cross-matching blood and for mother’s anticipating a second (or third…) pregnancy

Red blood cell compatibility table

The Universal Donor? Patients should ideally receive their own blood or type-specific blood products to minimize the chance of a transfusion reaction. Risks can be further reduced by cross-matching blood, but this may be skipped when blood is required for an emergency.

Other Blood Factors that May play a Role in Forensics K (Kell Positive System) Le (Lewis Negative System) M, N, S (M, N, S Positive System) There are a total of 30 blood typing systems.

What are the odds? O+ 1 in 3 persons O- 1 in 15 persons A+ 1 in 3 persons A- 1 in 16 persons B+ 1 in 12 persons B- 1 in 67 persons AB+ 1 in 29 persons AB- 1 in 167 persons

78 % are Rh+ 22 % are Rh- Again, what is meant by Positive (+) What is meant by Negative (-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_type