KINE 2011 Lecture Notes - Atherosclerosis, Neutrophil Extracellular Traps, Factor Xiii
20 Oct 2012
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Document Summary
Represents about 8% of total body weight. Average volume: 5 l in women, 5. 5 l in men. Blood = plasma (liquid portion) + cells (3 types suspended in the plasma: erythrocytes red blood cells. 99% of blood cells: leukocytes white blood cells. Immune system"s mobile defense units: platelets cell fragments. Blood composition: plasma - 55% (men), 58% (women, haematocrit or packed cell volume: Buffy coat (platelets + leukocytes) - less than 1% Erythrocytes - 45% (men), 42% (women) 1000 rbcs for every 1 wbc. 91% water: transport medium, absorbs and distributes heat. 6-8% proteins do not settle in the blood/stay in the plasma: prevent excessive loss of plasma from the capillaries, maintain plasma volume. Are dispersed evenly throughout the plasma as a colloid: responsible for plasma"s capacity to buffer changes in ph, each plasma protein performs a different task: Albumins (58%) contribute most to the colloid osmotic pressure because they are the most abundant of the plasma proteins.
