Link to lesson

Blood ingredients and their importance

Blood is a connective tissue which transports nutrients, respiratory gases, products of metabolism and hormones, participates in thermoregulation and in defense mechanisms of the body. It consists of liquid plasma and morphotic elementsmorphotic elements of the bloodmorphotic elements suspended in it. Water is the main component of plasma. It transports the dissolved organic and inorganic compounds throughout the entire body. One of the substances transported by plasma is the carbon dioxide - gas which dissolves in water.

Blood transfers also morphotic elements of blood, that is cells: red blood cells – erythrocytes, white blood cells – leukocytes and cell fragments – platelets. Among blood cells, the highest in number are erythrocyteserythrocyteserythrocytes, which are characterized by a big surface for binding oxygen. Their shape resembles concavoconcave discs, which gives them elasticity and allows them to squeeze through really narrow spaces. Fully grown erythrocytes do not have a karyon, and that is why they can fit more haemoglobin particles. Haemoglobin is a protein which gives the red blood cells their colour and which can bind oxygen and carbon dioxide particles. Haemoglobin can also permanently connect with carbon monoxide, but then it loses the ability to transport oxygen. This is why carbon monoxide is a strong toxin.

LeukocytesleukocytesLeukocytes, white blood cells, are the most diverse group of cells, where each type of cells has different function. Leukocytes have no colour, have karyon and are able to move in an amoebic way. PlateletsplateletsPlatelets, also known as thrombocytes, are fragments of cells that participate in blood clotting processes.

Blood types

There are 4 main blood typesblood typeblood types among humans: A, B, AB, O. The presence of a particular blood type is decided by the presence of proteins – antigensantigensantigens on the surface of the erythrocytes. A person with an A type blood has erythrocytes with antigens A. B type blood has antigens B on the surface of the erythrocytes, whereas erythrocytes of AB type blood have both types of antigens (A and B). Erythrocytes without antigens are in the case of an O type blood. In addition, in plasma there are 2 types of antibodiesantibodiesantibodies: anti‑A and anti‑B. They cause the red blood cells to be glued together. Anti‑A antibodies bind erythrocytes that have A antigen, anti‑B antibodies bind erythrocyte that have B antigen. O type blood plasma has both types of antibodies, whereas in the plasma of an AB type blood there are no antibodies. In addition, on the surface of erythrocytes there may be rhesus factorrhesus factorrhesus factor. If it exists, we have RhIndeks górny +⁺ blood type, e.g. ORhIndeks górny +⁺(O+, positive), if there is no rhesus factor– the blood type is RhIndeks górny -^-, e.g. ORhIndeks górny -^- (O-, negative). Around 85% of Polish people and nearly all Chinese and Japanese people have Rh+ blood.

R1Jbah03hdzoQ

Ilustracja przedstawia tabelę grup krwi. W pierwszym rzędzie ukazano cztery czerwone kółka z literą grupy krwi. Z pierwszego wystają różowe kulki, symbolizujące antygeny powierzchniowe grupy A. z drugiego wystają zielone romby, symbolizujące antygeny powierzchniowe grupy B. Z trzeciego (grupa AB) wystają oba rodzaje antygenów, a z czwartego żaden (grupa zero, group O). W środkowym rzędzie przedstawiono przeciwciała w osoczu: anty –B, anty – A, brak, oba rodzaje przeciwciał. Dolny rząd przedstawia pojedyncze antygeny.

Blood transfusion

Blood is a life‑giving liquid, called also the gift of life. It is given to the sick who lost some blood because of an accident or a surgery. Blood transfusiontransfusiontransfusion is sometimes needed if a person has low red blood cell count, for example in case of anaemia. In order for a transfusion to be successful, both the donor’s and the recipient’s blood type have to match.

RZaF2tFeqiC2X

Ilustracja przedstawia tabelę zgodności grup krwi. Tabela ta jest przydatna do ustalenia możliwego dawcy krwi dla osoby potrzebującej transfuzji. U góry wypisano grupy krwi dawcy, z boku grupy krwi biorcy. Ptaszki w zielonym polu na przecięciu kolumny i rzędu oznaczają możliwość transfuzji.

Lack of possibility to conduct a transfusion of a specific blood type when someone’s life is in danger can be a serious obstacle to fully help such person. This is why blood donation is crucial in saving people’s lives. Blood from a donor is processed, which allows for the blood to be stored in form that allows it to be used when needed. Blood donation points can be found in every city. The biggest blood donation events are organized by Polish Red Cross (PCK). One form of blood donation takes place in special ambulances that drive around cities and towns.

Summary

• Blood is composed of plasma and morphological elements of blood.

• Plasma is a water solution which includes organic and inorganic compounds.

• Morphological elements of the blood are composed of the blood cells: erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets.

• Platelets participate in the blood clotting process.

• Antigens that are present on the surface of erythrocytes decide on which four blood types we belong to: A, B, AB, O.

• Knowledge about the blood type and rhesus factor is important during blood trasfusion.

• Donating blood saves lives of many people.

R8vUZW88LCjnJ

Dokończ zdania. How was this lesson? Did you like it? Finish selected sentences. Propozycje It was easy for me (uzupełnij), It was difficult for me (uzupełnij), Today I learned (uzupełnij), I understood that (uzupełnij), It surprised me (uzupełnij).

Dokończ zdania. How was this lesson? Did you like it? Finish selected sentences. Propozycje It was easy for me (uzupełnij), It was difficult for me (uzupełnij), Today I learned (uzupełnij), I understood that (uzupełnij), It surprised me (uzupełnij).

How was this lesson? Did you like it? Finish selected sentences.

Keywords

blood types, transfusion, agglutination

Glossary