PSL201Y1 Study Guide - Eosinophil, Sympathetic Nervous System, Genetic Disorder
Document Summary
Plasma: liquid portion of blood; it transports proteins, hormones, electrolytes, organic nutrients, and waste products. Erythrocytes: the cellular components of blood, which transport oxygen and carbon dioxide. Leukocytes: white blood cells; defend the body against pathogens. Platelets: cell fragments; critical for the formation of blood clots to prevent the loss of blood. Overview of the composition of blood: the hematocrit. The fractional contribution of erythrocytes to the blood is called hematocrit, which is determined by centrifuging a sample of blood. Hematocrit is calculated by determining the percentage of whole blood that consists of erythrocytes: hematocrit = (height of erythrocyte column/height of whole blood column) x 100. It indicates whether a person has a normal complement of erythrocytes. A low hematocrit indicates a lower than normal concentration of erythrocytes in the blood. A high hematocrit indicates a higher than normal concentration of erythrocytes in the blood, called polycythemia (normal adaptive response in low-oxygen environments)
