Blood blood connective tissue in fluid form

Blood Functions

• 5. Regulatory
• regulate body temperature
• regulate pH through buffers
• coolant properties of water
• vasodilatation of surface vessels dump heat
• regulate water content of cells by interactions with dissolved ions and proteins
• 6. Body Temperature
• Water- high heat capacity, thermal conductivity, heat of vaporization
• Typical heat generation is 3000 kcal/day

Blood composition

• Suspension of cells in plasma (carrier fluid)
• 45% Cells
• 55% Plasma
• Cells
• Red cells (erythrocytes) 99% 5x106/mL
• White cells (leukocytes)
• 7x103/mL < 1% Platelets (thrombocytes)
• 3x105/mL

Blood composition

Blood Plasma

• Straw colored clear liquid
• Contains 90% water
• 7% plasma proteins
• created in liver
• confined to bloodstream
• albumin
• maintain blood osmotic pressure
• immunoglobulins
• antibodies bind to foreign substances called antigens
• form antigen-antibody complexes
• fibrinogen
• for clotting
• 2% other substances
• Nutrients, electrolytes, gases, hormones, waste products