Somali National University

Faculty Of Education And Social Science

Chemistry &Biology Batch 9 “Group 1”

LECTURER: DR ABDIAZIZ
ADEN HASHI
  THE BLOOD
Blood is a fluid connective tissue. It circulates constantly around the body,
allowing constant communication between tissues distant from each other.
It transports:
• oxygen
• nutrients
• hormones
• heat
• protective substances
• clotting factors.
Blood is composed of a clear, straw-colored, watery fluid called plasma in
which several different types of blood cell are suspended.
Plasma normally constitutes 55% of the volume of blood and the cell fraction
45%.
  Continue…….
 Blood makes up about 7% of body weight (about 5.6 litres in a
70 kg man). This proportion is less in women and considerably
greater in children, gradually decreasing until the adult level is
reached.
Blood in the blood vessels is always in motion because of the
pumping action of the heart. The continual flow maintains a fairly
constant environment for body cells.
 Blood volume and the concentration of its many constituents are
kept within narrow limits by homeostatic mechanisms.
 Heat produced from metabolically active organs, such as working
skeletal muscles and the liver, is distributed around the body by
the bloodstream, contributing to maintenance of core body
temperature.
  PLASMA
 After studying this section, you should be able to:
■ list the constituents of plasm a
■ describe their functions
 constituents of plasma are water (90–92%) and dissolved
and suspended substances, including:
• plasma proteins
• inorganic salts
• nutrients, principally from digested foods
• waste materials
• hormones
• gases.
  CELLULAR CONTENT OF
BLOOD
There Are Three Types Of Blood Cell:
• Erythrocytes (Red Cells)
• Platelets (Thrombocytes)
• Leukocytes (White Cells)
Blood cells are synthesized mainly in red bone marrow. Some
lymphocytes additionally, are produced in lymphoid tissue.
In the bone marrow, all blood cells originate from pluripotent (i.e. capable
of developing into one of a number of cell types) stem cells and go through
several developmental stages before entering the blood.
Different types of blod cell follow separate lines of development.
The process of blood cell formation is called haemopoiesis.
• For the first few years of life, red marrow occupies the entire bone
capacity and, over the next 20 years, is gradually replaced by fatty
yellow marrow that has no hemopoietic function.
• In adults, haemopoiesis in the skeleton is confined to flat bones,
irregular bones and the ends (epiphyses) of long bones, the main sites
being the sternum, ribs, pelvis and skull.
  Erythrocytes (red blood cells)
Red blood cells are by far the most abundant type
of blood cell; 99% of all blood cells are
erythrocytes
• They are biconcave discs with no nucleus, and
their diameter is about 7 µm.
• Their main function is in gas transport, mainly
of oxygen, but they also carry some carbon
dioxide.
• Their characteristic shape is suited to their
purpose; the biconcavity increases their surface
area for gas exchange, and the thinness of the
central portion allows fast entry and exit of
gases.
• The cells are flexible so they can squeeze
through narrow capillaries, and contain no
intracellular organelles, leaving more room for
haemoglobin, the large pigmented protein
responsible for gas transport.
  Life Span And Function Of
Erythrocytes:
• Life Span:

• Because they have no nucleus, erythrocytes cannot divide and so

need to be continually replaced by new cells from the red bone
marrow, which is present in the ends of long bones and in flat and
irregular bones. They pass through several stages of development
before entering the blood.
• Their life span in the circulation is about 120 days.
• There are approximately 30 trillion (1014) red blood cells in the
average human body, about 25% of the body’s total cell count, and
around 1%, mainly older cells, are cleared and destroyed daily.
• The process of development of red blood cells from stem cells takes
about 7 days and is called erythropoiesis,
  Continue…….
During their life cycle:
 Production: Erythrocytes are produced in the bone marrow through a process
called erythropoiesis. This process is stimulated by erythropoietin, a hormone
released by the kidneys in response to low oxygen levels in the blood.
 Maturation: Once produced, erythrocytes mature in the bone marrow and then
enter the bloodstream
 Circulation: They circulate in the bloodstream, performing their primary
functions.
 Senescence and Removal: After approximately 120 days, aged erythrocytes are
removed from circulation by the spleen and liver. Macrophages in these organs
break down old erythrocytes, recycling their components, especially iron, for the
production of new erythrocytes.
  Continue…….
Functions:
 Transport Hemoglobin: Erythrocytes contain hemoglobin, a protein that binds
to oxygen in the lungs and releases it in tissues where the oxygen concentration is
low.
 Gas Exchange: The biconcave shape of erythrocytes increases their surface area,
enhancing their ability to exchange gases efficiently.
 Carbon Dioxide Transport: Erythrocytes help in the transport of carbon
dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, from the tissues back to the lungs. Carbon
dioxide is carried in three forms: dissolved in plasma, chemically bound to
hemoglobin, and as bicarbonate ions.
 Transport Nitric Oxide: a vasodilator that helps regulate blood flow and
pressure by relaxing the blood vessel walls.
Overall, erythrocytes are essential for oxygen delivery, carbon dioxide removal, and
maintaining homeostasis within the body.
  Life span and function of
Leukocytes :
Life Span:
Neutrophils: 6 hours to a few days
Lymphocytes: Several days to years
Monocytes: 1 to 3 days (longer as
tissue macrophages)
Eosinophils: 8 to 12 hours in blood 8
to 12 days in tissues
Basophils: Several hours to a few
days
  Continue…….
Functions:
Leukocytes, or white blood cells (WBCs), are essential components of the
immune system. They play crucial roles in defending the body against
infections, foreign invaders, and in various immune responses. Here’s an
overview of their lifespan and functions:
Types of Leukocytes and Their Functions
 Neutrophils Function: Primarily involved in phagocytosis, where they
ingest and destroy bacteria and fungi. They are the first responders to
microbial infection and are critical in acute inflammation. Lifespan:
Approximately 6 hours to a few days in the bloodstream. They may live
longer in tissues where they are fighting infection.
 Lymphocytes Types :T cells: Involved in cell-mediated immunity.
They can directly kill infected host cells, activate other immune cells, and
regulate the immune response.
B cells: Responsible for humoral immunity.
  Continue…….
They produce antibodies against antigens. Natural Killer (NK) cells: Play a role in
the destruction of virus-infected cells and tumor cells. Lifespan: Several days to
years, depending on the type and state of activation.
 Monocytes Function: Phagocytic cells that differentiate into macrophages
and dendritic cells in tissues. They are important in chronic inflammation and
help in antigen presentation to T cells.
Lifespan:1to3 days in the bloodstream; can live for months in tissues as
macrophages.
 Eosinophils in Function: Combat parasitic infections and participate in allergic
reactions. They also modulate inflammatory responses.Lifespan: Approximately
8 to 12 hours the bloodstream; 8 to 12 days in tissues.
 BasophilsFunction: release histamine and other mediators. Lifespan: Several
hours Involved in inflammatory responses, particularly allergic reactions. They
to a few days in the bloodstream.
  Life Span And Function Of
Platelets: :
Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are small, disc-
shaped cell fragments in the blood that play a critical
role in hemostasis, which is the process of blood clot
formation to prevent excessive bleeding. Here are the
key details about their life span and functions
 Life Span: Platelets have a relatively short life span,
typically ranging from 7 to 10 days. They are produced in
the bone marrow by megakaryocytes, which are large cells
that release thousands of platelets into the bloodstream
 Destruction: Old or damaged platelets are removed from
circulation by the spleen and liver, where they are
phagocytosed by macrophages
  Continue…….
Functions:
 Hemostasis: Platelets are essential for the process of hemostasis, which involves
:
• Adhesion: When a blood vessel is injured, platelets adhere to the exposed collagen
and endothelial cells at the injury site.
• Activation: This adhesion triggers the activation of platelets, causing them to
change shape, release granules, and express surface proteins that facilitate further
platelet aggregation
• Aggregation: Activated platelets stick to each other, forming a temporary platelet
plug to cover the injury
• Clot Retraction and Repair: Platelets help in the contraction of the clot, reducing
its size and contributing to tissue repair by releasing growth factors.
 Secretion of Growth Factors: Platelets release various growth factors such
as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor-beta
(TGF-β), which aid in wound healing and tissue regeneration.
  Continue…….
 Immune Function: Platelets interact with immune cells and participate
in the body's immune response, including the recognition and destruction of
pathogens.
 Maintenance of Vascular Integrity: Platelets help maintain the
integrity of the endothelium (the inner lining of blood vessels) by providing
necessary support and repair mechanisms.

END
  GROUP NAMES
1)
2)
GROUP NAMES
C/LAAHI C/KARIIN MAXAMED
ID:1793
C/LAAHI CALI IBRAAHIM
ID:1684
3) C/RAXMAAN AXMED AFRAX ID:1758
4) NAJIIB C/LAAHI MAXAMED ID:1689
5) MAXAMED C/LAAHI XASAN ID:1099
6) SALMA C/RAXMAAN MAXAMED ID:1686