Identify each component within blood. Describe how each component performs its function(s).
Blood is a fluid tissue that circulates around the body through the blood vessels. Blood performs many important functions namely, it transports oxygen, nutrients, hormones to all other body tissues, and it regulates the pH, temperature, and water content of cells.
Blood is composed of two main components:
- Plasma (fluid component)
- Formed elements – RBC, WBC, and platelets.
Plasma
Plasma is the fluid portion of blood, composed of 90% water and the remaining 10% is made up of ions, proteins, nutrients, dissolved gases, and wastes.
Functions of plasma:
- Plasma maintains the body’s fluid balance.
- Transport nutrients, waste products, hormones, and dissolved gases.
- The proteins of plasma play a role in clotting, defense, and transport.
- Proteins are the important reserve of amino acids for cell nutrition.
- Plasma proteins act as a carrier for other molecules.
- Proteins maintain the blood pH, helps to keep it as slightly basic.
- Plasma proteins involve in the process of coagulation of blood when an injury happens.
- Plasma proteins exerts osmotic pressure to cells.
Erythrocytes or red blood cells (RBC)
RBC is the most abundant cell in the blood, biconcave in shape, has an average life span of 120 days. RBCs are synthesized in the bone marrow and are released into the bloodstream after maturation. Matured RBC does not contain mitochondria and nucleus.
Functions of RBC:
- Hemoglobin (Hb), the iron-protein present in RBC carries the oxygen from the lungs and deliver it to tissues.
- Hb picks up the carbon dioxide from the other tissue and unloads it in the lungs
- RBC can synthesize nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide which acts to relax vessel walls.
- RBC play a role in immune response when the pathogens like bacteria lyse the RBC, their Hb releases free radicals. Free radicals damage the microbes cell wall and membrane and thus kill them.
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