Physiology of Blood

Physiology of Blood - Description of blood. It's functions, formation, physical characteristics and diseases.

Function of Blood
1. Transportation - Blood is responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the cells of the body and carbon dioxide from the cells to the lungs.

2. Regulation - Blood helps to regulate the pH balance of the body. It adjusts body temperature because of its coolant and heating properties.

3. Protection - Blood can clot which is vitally important to stop blood loss. White blood cells, plasma proteins, and antibodies help to get rid of foreign microbes and toxins.

Physical Characteristics
Blood is thicker, heavier, and more sticky then water. It flows much slower then water because of its viscosity. The temperature of blood is usually 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Blood accounts for 8% of the body's total weight. The average male has about 6 liters of blood while the average female has 4-5 liters.

Formation
Blood is formed through the process called hematopoiesis. During a fetus' life blood is formed through a few different points ; The embryonic sac, liver, spleen, thymus gland, lymph nodes, and bone marrow. After birth this process occurs in the red bone marrow.

Clotting
Unless blood is in the body it will not stay in it's liquid form. As soon as blood leaves the body it becomes more like gel and thickens. This gel-like substance separates from the liquid portion which is called serum. The serum is plasma without the clotting proteins. The leftover gel is called a clot and consists of protein fibers, fibrin. Within them are the formed elements of blood. If blood clots too quickly it can result in thrombosis which is the clotting in an unbroken blood vessel. If blood takes too long to clot it can lead to a hemorrhage, dangerous amounts of bleeding.

Blood Related Disorders
Anemia - A condition in which the blood has too little oxygen. This condition leads to fatigue and intolerance to cold. It can also make the skin appear pale.

Infectious Mononucleosis - A contagious disease that affects the lymphoid tissues throughout the body and it also affects the blood. The people who are usually affected by this disease the most are children and young adults. Oral contact is what spreads this disease. Fatigue, headache, dizziness, sore throat, large lymph nodes, and fever are symptoms of this disease. There is no cure but within a few weeks it clears up as long as there are no complications.

Leukemia - A disease of blood-forming tissues. This disease allows for uncontrolled production or leukocytes. They do not die at the end of their normal life span which can lead to internal hemorrhaging.