C.1 Origin of Blood Cells

Blood cells are made in several body sites.  The specific
site depends upon the type of blood cell; the information
for each type of cell is provided in Table 1.  When these
cells are sufficiently mature to perform their specific
functions (also Table 1), they are sent to the
blood/circulatory system.  There they are suspended in
plasma.
Although blood is quite thick, it can be pumped around the
body.   
C.2 Functions of Blood

In addition to supporting the needs of the blood cells,
   plasma:
1. Carries nutrients to and wastes away from body sites.   
2. Keeps the acid/base balance 

Blood and the circulatory system provide mass transport
from materials coming from outside the body to cells and
tissues in the body.  The plasma contains nutrients needed
by the body and the cells and carries it to their
workplace.  The plasma also provides a clean up service by
collecting and removing worn out cells and debris for
subsequent excretion.  

Where does the blood get cleaned?  

Function of platelets: to maintain blood loss when the
                       system is damaged.
    How?  1. Repair/plug tiny leaks in vessels
          2. Promote clotting after significant damage.   

Why are red blood cells red?

Blood donor clinics take blood from healthy people to give
to  people who have too little blood or, more usually, too
little of a particular blood component.  If a particular
blood component is lacking, whole blood is not usually
administered.  That would be wasteful.  If red blood cells
are needed, they are separated from the blood and given.
Here are some of the reasons that people are given blood or
blood products:
     Loss of blood: from accidents or surgery
                    bleeding from haemophilia
                    blood doping (sports)

C.3 Blood disorders

Haemophilia is an inheritable disease in which all of the
factors needed to for blood to be able to clot are not
present.  If the person is in an accident, lost blood would
be replaced.  Under usual conditions, the missing factors
would be supplied by regular injections.

Deficiency of blood products:     
Blood diseases 
Anemia indicates that there are insufficient RBCs or the RBCs
This happens more often in young women than young men
because of menstruation.   

What is "blood poisoning?"

Blood infections usually result when a microbe in another
part of the body gets into the blood stream.  It then can
be distributed around the body. 
Fever - microorganisms in the blood
        virus infection - flu
        bacterial infections - boil
        contaminated needles from I.V. (intravenous) drug
        injection with dirty
        needles. 

Are blood cells alive?  
The answer is NO.  Life usually suggest the ability to grow
(involving eating and excreting) and to reproduce.  The
mature RBCs in the blood have no nucleus, no special
organelles, and no ribosomes.  Ribosomes are required if
protein is to be made.  It can be considered a product of
the body that functions for about X days before it.
Unlike RBCs, mature WBCs in the blood do have nuclear
material. However, as RBCs, they do not reproduce but
develop from a precursor cell.  The last type of cellular
component, platelets, are incomplete cells -  blebs of
membrane containing cytoplasmic constituents which have
broken off of xxxx cells.

C.4 Blood Mythology Sheet
"Bad blood"
Do vampires exist? In Transylavania an imaginary 
Name a famous movie with a werewolf.

C. 5 Blood Crossword Puzzle
Alexandra? - Reservation near Morinville with lots of
             problem students.