Review: Introduction to Blood

Here is what we have learned from Introduction to Blood:

  • Blood, which consists of cells and cell fragments suspended in an intercellular matrix, is one of the connective tissues in the body.
  • Formed elements are the cellular components of the blood, and the liquid part is plasma.
  • Blood is the primary transport medium that is responsible for continuously supplying nutrients and oxygen to the active cells in the body.
  • The three activities of the blood are transportation, regulation, and protection.
  • Erythrocytes are tiny biconcave disks, and their primary function is to transport oxygen and, to a lesser extent, carbon dioxide.
  • In the tissue spaces leukocytes provide a defense against organisms that cause disease and either promote or inhibit inflammatory responses.
  • Two main groups of leukocytes in the blood are granulocytes and agranulocytes; the cells that develop granules in the cytoplasm are called granulocytes, and those that do not have granules are called agranulocytes.
  • Thrombocytes become sticky and clump together to form platelet plugs that close breaks and tears in blood vessels.
  • The production of formed elements, or blood cells, is called hemopoiesis.