BIO203H5 Lecture Notes - Carbonic Anhydrase, Fetal Hemoglobin, Hemolymph
Document Summary
Blood is a connective tissue that consists of cells in a watery extracellular matrix called plasma. The remainder of the blood is made up of formed elements: red blood cells, platelets, and several types of white blood cells. Platelets are cell fragments that minimize blood loss from ruptured blood vessels by releasing material that assists in the formation of clots. White blood cells are part of the immune system and fight infections. Red blood cells transport oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body, and play a critical role in transporting carbon dioxide from tissues to lungs. In humans, red blood cells make up 99. 9% of the formed elements. Red blood cells contain an oxygen carrying molecule called hemoglobin. Oxygen found in high [] of blood. Blood had high oxygen carrying capacity because o2 readily binds to haemoglobin found in rbc. By increasing oxtgen carrying capacity of blood, hemoglobim made it possible for cellular respiration rates to increase.
