Cardiovascular system Part 2

Erythrocytes(red blood cells)

The main function is to carry oxygen

Anatomy of circulating erythrocytes:

Biconcave disks

Essentially bags of hemoglobin

Anucleate (no nucleus)

Contain very few organelles

Leukocytes (White Blood Cells)

Crucial in the body’s defense
against disease

These are complete cells, with a
nucleus and organelles

Able to move into and out of
blood vessels

Can respond to chemicals
released by damaged tissues

Platelets

Derived from ruptured
multinucleate cells

Needed for the clotting process

Blood usually clots within 3 to 6
minutes

The clot remains as endothelium

The clot is broken down after tissue
repair

Blood types

Your gene is estabilished before you are born.by specific
GENES inherited from your parents.

You inherit one gene from your MOTHER and one from your
FATHER.

There are 3 alleles or genes for blood type: A, B, and O.