Anatomy for Sport and Exercise
Blood
1
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session you should be
able to:
Identify the functions of blood

Identify the components of blood and
their specific functions
2
Blood

‘River of Life’

Average adult has
4-5 litres of blood
3
Functions of blood

There are three main functions of blood:
Transportation – O2, CO2, Hormones
2. Regulation – Body temp, pH, volume
3. Protection – blood clotting, antibodies
1.
4
Constituents of Blood

Plasma

Red blood cells

White blood cells

Platelets
5
Composition of Blood
1.
Plasma
(55%)
Proteins (7%)
Other Solutes (1%)
Water (92%)

Formed Elements
(45%)
Red blood cells (99.9%)
White blood cells
1%
Platelets
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Blood consists of formed elements
(living cells) that are suspended in
fluid called plasma
 The diagram below illustrates what
occurs when blood is spun in a
centrifuge:

Plasma (55% of whole blood)
Leucocytes (white
blood cells) and platelets (<1%
of whole blood)
Erythrocytes - red blood cells
(45% of whole blood)
Formed
elements
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Plasma
Straw coloured fluid
 Makes up 55% of blood volume
 Approx 90% of plasma is water
 Contains dissolved substances:

Salts
 Glucose and fatty acids
 Blood proteins
 Waste products
 Enzymes and hormones
 Gases

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Formed Elements

Red blood cells

White blood cells

Platelets
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Red Blood Cells
RBC’s / Erythrocytes
 Contain HAEMOGLOBIN – Oxygen
carrier
 Carry oxygen around the body
 Biconcave discs just small enough to
pass through a capillary
 Produced in red bone marrow
 Lifespan of 120 days
 Millions in single drop of blood
 The amount of RBC found in blood
when it is spun is known as
haematocrit

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White Blood Cells
WBC’s / Leukocytes
 Larger than erythrocytes,
but less in number
 5 different types:

Lymphocytes
 Monocytes
 Neutrophils
 Basophils
 Eosinophils

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White Blood Cells (cont)

All 5 types have basically same function –
to protect the body from infection
12
Platelets
Thrombocytes
 Transport chemicals that are important in
the clotting process
 Form blood clots
 Stick together at sites of cuts etc and
encourage growth of fibres
 Red cells become trapped in fibres to form
a scab
 Prevent blood loss and entry of bacteria

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Haemoglobin V Myoglobin
Myo = Muscles
 Haemoglobin is the oxygen carrier in the
blood
 Myoglobin is similar to haemoglobin, but is
found in the muscle, so again is an oxygen
carrier

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Key Terms
Myo – Muscle - Myoglobin
 Cyte – Cell - Leukocyte
 Haem – Blood - Haemoglobin
 Erythro – Red - Erythrocyte
 Leuko – White - Leukocyte
 Thromb – Clot - Thrombosis
 An – Without – Anaemia
 Haematrocrit – Separated RBC

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Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session you should be
able to:
Identify the functions of blood

Identify the components of blood and
their specific functions
16