Chapter 1
Blood Tests
There are at least more than 1,000 blood tests listed in the internet and more are coming.
I can only describe the common blood tests which are done in the family doctor clinic.
What is Blood?
Blood is the dark red (venous blood) or bright red (arterial blood) fluid that flows through the human body.
Blood transports all the essential components in the body that is required for living such as oxygen, nutrients, vitamins, chemicals, antibodies to all the organs of the human body.
The blood contains of 2 components:
1. Cellular components (blood Cells) are produced in the bone marrow and certain lymphoid tissues of the body
a. Red blood cells – are the blood cells that contain hemoglobin which gives it the red color and carry oxygen to the body tissues
b. White blood cells
They are the blood cells which help in fighting germs and toxins.
They consists of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils
c. Platelets
These are small fragments of giant cells produced in the bone marrow which help to seal any break or leakage in the blood vessel walls
2. Non-cellular components (the plasma) consist mainly of water (80%), proteins (7%), and small amount of sugar, fats and mineral salts.
Plasma proteins are responsible for the stickiness of the blood that is necessary for maintaining normal blood pressure.
Many of the plasma proteins have special blood functions such as blood clotting, antibodies against germs, and enzymes for digestion.
What are the functions of the blood?
Oxygen and Nutrients
The erythrocytes are the most numerous blood cells i.e. about 4-6 millions/mm3.
They are also called red blood cells.
In man erythrocytes are devoid of a nucleus and have the shape of a biconcave lens.
The red cells are rich in hemoglobin that is a protein able to attach to oxygen and carbon dioxide.
These cells are responsible for:
a. providing oxygen to tissues and
b. partly for recovering carbon dioxide produced as waste.
However, most CO2 is transported by plasma, in the form of soluble carbonates
The lack of nucleus permits more room for hemoglobin and the biconcave shape of these cells increases the surface and cytoplasmic (cell to plasma) volume ratio.
The red blood cells also carry glucose in their cells to provide nutrition to the brain and other tissues of the body.
The plasma contains proteins, fats, mineral salts, vitamins, enzymes to provide nutrition to the tissues of the body.
Fighting germs and pathogens
White blood cells (called leukocytes) are an important part of the body's system for defending itself against infection.
They can travel in and out of the bloodstream to reach affected tissues.
Blood has much fewer numbers of WBCs than red blood cells although the body can increase WBC production to fight infection.
Blood Clotting
Platelets and blood clotting factors in the plasma form clots to plug openings in the blood vessel walls stopping bleeding
Waste elimination
Waste materials are also transported from the cells to the excretory organs such as the kidneys and the intestines where they are removed from the body in the urine and stool.
Temperature and electrolytes Control
Blood can also serve as temperature regulators as it distributes heat produced by the working muscles through out the body
Blood is also essential for regulating the concentration of Hydrogen ions in the body, which are also known as pH balance
The regulation of the levels of water and salt needed by each cell of the body also falls under the administration duties of blood
Hormones
The blood plasma also has to carry out the transportation of hormones produced by the glands of the endocrine system to the rest of the body
TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Blood Tests
Chapter 2 Normal Values
Chapter 3 Hematology
Chapter 4 Metabolic Diseases
Chapter 5 Liver Function Tests
Chapter 6
Blood Tests
There are at least more than 1,000 blood tests listed in the internet and more are coming.
I can only describe the common blood tests which are done in the family doctor clinic.
What is Blood?
Blood is the dark red (venous blood) or bright red (arterial blood) fluid that flows through the human body.
Blood transports all the essential components in the body that is required for living such as oxygen, nutrients, vitamins, chemicals, antibodies to all the organs of the human body.
The blood contains of 2 components:
1. Cellular components (blood Cells) are produced in the bone marrow and certain lymphoid tissues of the body
a. Red blood cells – are the blood cells that contain hemoglobin which gives it the red color and carry oxygen to the body tissues
b. White blood cells
They are the blood cells which help in fighting germs and toxins.
They consists of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils
c. Platelets
These are small fragments of giant cells produced in the bone marrow which help to seal any break or leakage in the blood vessel walls
2. Non-cellular components (the plasma) consist mainly of water (80%), proteins (7%), and small amount of sugar, fats and mineral salts.
Plasma proteins are responsible for the stickiness of the blood that is necessary for maintaining normal blood pressure.
Many of the plasma proteins have special blood functions such as blood clotting, antibodies against germs, and enzymes for digestion.
What are the functions of the blood?
Oxygen and Nutrients
The erythrocytes are the most numerous blood cells i.e. about 4-6 millions/mm3.
They are also called red blood cells.
In man erythrocytes are devoid of a nucleus and have the shape of a biconcave lens.
The red cells are rich in hemoglobin that is a protein able to attach to oxygen and carbon dioxide.
These cells are responsible for:
a. providing oxygen to tissues and
b. partly for recovering carbon dioxide produced as waste.
However, most CO2 is transported by plasma, in the form of soluble carbonates
The lack of nucleus permits more room for hemoglobin and the biconcave shape of these cells increases the surface and cytoplasmic (cell to plasma) volume ratio.
The red blood cells also carry glucose in their cells to provide nutrition to the brain and other tissues of the body.
The plasma contains proteins, fats, mineral salts, vitamins, enzymes to provide nutrition to the tissues of the body.
Fighting germs and pathogens
White blood cells (called leukocytes) are an important part of the body's system for defending itself against infection.
They can travel in and out of the bloodstream to reach affected tissues.
Blood has much fewer numbers of WBCs than red blood cells although the body can increase WBC production to fight infection.
Blood Clotting
Platelets and blood clotting factors in the plasma form clots to plug openings in the blood vessel walls stopping bleeding
Waste elimination
Waste materials are also transported from the cells to the excretory organs such as the kidneys and the intestines where they are removed from the body in the urine and stool.
Temperature and electrolytes Control
Blood can also serve as temperature regulators as it distributes heat produced by the working muscles through out the body
Blood is also essential for regulating the concentration of Hydrogen ions in the body, which are also known as pH balance
The regulation of the levels of water and salt needed by each cell of the body also falls under the administration duties of blood
Hormones
The blood plasma also has to carry out the transportation of hormones produced by the glands of the endocrine system to the rest of the body
TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Blood Tests
Chapter 2 Normal Values
Chapter 3 Hematology
Chapter 4 Metabolic Diseases
Chapter 5 Liver Function Tests
Chapter 6
