Blood
is a circulating fluid composed of
plasma and cells (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets ). The primary function of blood is to supply oxygen and nutrients as
well as constitutional elements to
tissue and to remove waste products.
Blood also enables hormones and other substances to be transported
between tissues and organs.
Any problem that interferes with blood composition or circulation can lead to downstream tissue malfunction, is
also
involved in mainatianing
of homeostasis by acting as a medium for
transferring heat to the skin and
by acting as a buffer system for bodily
PH. The blood is invomved in the
transportation of gases; the
oxygen is the most immediate need for every cell and is carried throughout the body by the blood
circulation. Oxygen is used as the cellular
level as the final electron
acceptor in the electron
transport chain (the primary method of generating atp for cellular reaction). Haemoglobin (HB) thus binds oxygen when passing through the alveoli of the lungs and
releases oxygen to a warmer, more acidic
environment of bodily tissues, through simple diffusion .
The
carbon dioxide (C02) is
another gas transported by the blood, is
removed from the blood and released intor the air through
the lungs. The cell produces CO2 as they undergo the process of cellular
respiration (particularly of kreb’s
cycle). The molecules are produced from carons that wee originally part of glucose.
Most of the CO2 combines
with H2O and is carried in
the plasma as bicarbonate ions.
Chemoreceptors in the brain and major
blood vessels detect this shift
and stimulate the breathing centre of the brain (the medulla oblangata)
Hence, whenever CO2 levels build up and
blood becomes more acidic, we voluntarily breathe faster, thus lowering CO2
level and stabilizing blood PH. In contract, a person who is hyperventilating
(such as during panic attack) will expire CO2 more than that produced in the
body and the blood will become too alkaline leading to alkaline.
REFERENCE
REFERENCE
Chapman
J.T. Otterbein L.E. Elias J. A., Chio A. M. (2001). Carbon monoxide attenuates
aeroallergen-induced inflammation in mice. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Physiol.
2001; 281:L209-L216.
Cheesbrough
M. (200). Medical laboratory manual for tropical countries, volume II, 2nd
edition, Tropical Health Technology Butherworths, UK 1987.
Cobbs
N. and Etzel R. A. (1991): “Uninterntional
CO-related deaths in the United States”. JAMA 266: (5): 659-663.
Committee
on Medical and Biological Effects of Environmental Pollutants (1977).
Carbon
monoxide Washington D.C.: National Academy of Sciences PP 29.
Davies
M.W. and potter F.A. (1996). Carbon monoxide. Soda lime and volatile agents.
Anaesthesia 1996,51:90.
Dematt
M.P.M., Pietersma A., Kofflard M. (1996). Association of plasma fibrinogen
level with coronary artery diseases, smoking inflammation markers.
Atherosclerosis 1996; 121:185-191