BSC 1086C Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Vasospasm, Endothelium, Buffy Coat
Document Summary
Chapter 21 in- class notes: the percentage of the blood volume that consists of erythrocytes is called hematocrit. 8% of our body weight or 5-6 l for men and 4-5 l for women. Its color depends on its saturation with oxygen. Dark red blood has a low o2 saturation, bright red blood a high saturation. The blood ph should be between 7. 35-7. 45: the thickness or viscosity of blood is mainly determined by the amount of. The higher the hematocrit the higher the viscosity and vice versa: plasma consists of 90% water, which acts as a solvent for other substances, the so-called solutes, proteins make up the majority of solutes. Erythrocytes cells have no nuclei and platelets are cell fragments only: erythocytes are by far the most numerous blood cells with approx 5 million per ul of blood. Their red color comes from the protein hemoglobin. Their main function is transport of oxygen from the lungs to the tissue.
