Chapter 11. The Cardiovascular System: Blood
11.0 Introduction
Chapter Objectives
After studying this chapter, you will be able to:
- identify the primary functions of blood, its fluid and cellular components, and its characteristics;
- describe the formation of the formed element components of blood;
- compare and contrast the morphological features, relative size, abundance, and major functions of the three main formed elements of blood: erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white blood cells), and thrombocytes (platelets);
- compare and contrast how and where erythrocytes and leukocytes are produced;
- describe the process of hemostasis;
- explain the significance of AB and Rh blood groups in blood transfusions; and
- discuss a variety of blood disorders.
Single-celled organisms do not need blood. They obtain nutrients directly from and excrete wastes directly into their environment. The human organism cannot do that. Our large, complex bodies need blood to deliver nutrients to and remove wastes from our trillions of cells. The heart pumps blood throughout the body in a network of blood vessels. Together, these three components—blood, heart, and vessels—make up the cardiovascular system. This chapter focuses on the medium of transport: blood.
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