Blood

List and describe the three main functions of blood

- Distribution: transports nutrients, water, hormones, waste, oxygen, carbon dioxide in body; Oxygen converts to tap (energy) -Regulates homeostasis: when hot you sweat (water based) to cool you off. Too much water= pee it out -Protection: without platelets you bleed to death. White blood cells fights/prevents infections

Describe the physical characteristics of blood

- sticky fluid with metallic (iron) taste -high oxygen: scarlet, light red -low oxygen: dark red (blue on diagrams)

List and provide the relative amounts and the components of the following three layers formed from centrifuged blood

-Plasma: 55% -Buffy Coat: White blood cells (leukocytes) and Platelets <1% -Erythrocytes: Red blood cells 45%

Leukocytes

White blood cells

Define hematocrit

percent of blood volume normal number 45%

Erythrocytes

red blood cells