1. Circulatory System
Blood has many functions: waste, gas and nutrient transport, temp regulation, immune response, clotting, buffering of acids and bases
Blood 4-6L in body, is composed of two parts: plasma and formed elements
Formed elements: erythrocytes(RBC), platelets, leukocytes(WBC)

2. Blood Plasma Plasma: clear extracellular fluid
Plasma contains proteins that are key to survival. Albumin, globulins, fibrinogen
Albumin: ph buffer and key to blood viscosity and osmolarity
Globulins: solute transport, immunity

3. Blood Plasma Fibrinogen: sticky proteins that forms framework of clot
Plasma also contains toxic nitrogenous waste products of catabolism
Viscosity: the resistance of a liquid to flow, or the “thickness” of a liquid
Osmolarity: the measure of dissolved solutes in the blood compared to tissue

4. Erythrocytes Hemopoiesis: the process to making blood
Myeloid hemopoiesis: blood formed in bones
RBC’s: two main functions, carry oxygen from lungs to tissue and CO2 from tissue to lungs
Hemoglobin: protein in blood cell that binds to CO2 and O2, has four parts called heme’s

5. Erythrocytes
Hematocrit: the percent of RBC’s in whole blood (42-52% men, 37-48% women)
Dietary iron is very important. Each RBC contains iron, it allows the RBC to bind gases
Hypoxemia: drop in RBC count causes low O2 levels.
Kidneys sense hypoxemia, increase EPO production causing increase in production

6. Erythrocytes
Hemolysis: when RBC’s die or become damaged, they rupture leaving hemoglobin and membranes that are broken down by liver and spleen
Polycythemia: the over production of RBC’s usually caused by cancer
Anemia: low amounts of RBC’s can be caused by many things, usually age and low levels of EPO from kidneys

7. Erythrocytes
Sickle cell: found in African descent, high death rate, causes RBC’s to be missed shaped leads to low O2 levels and blocking of arteries