Hematopoiesis 

Blood cell production that occurs within the red bone marrow.

What are the two major components to blood?

Plasma and blood cells

What is plasma?

Plasma is one out of the two major components of blood and is composed primarliy of water, but also contains proteins, electrolytes, gases, nutrients and waste. 

What percentage of blood is plasma?

Approximately 55% of blood is plasma. 

What are the three major functions of blood? 

Transportation, regulation, and protection. 

What percentage of blood is made up of blood cells? 

Approximately 45% of blood is made up of blood cells.

What are the three types of blood cells? 

Erythrocytes (RBCs), leukocytes (WBCs), and thrombocytes (platelets). 

What is erythoropoiesis? 

Is the process of RBC production.

What are the primary functions of Erythrocytres (RBCs)?

Erythrocytes are primarily made up of what large molecule?

Hemoglobin.

What is Hemoglobin? 

a complex protein iron compound composed of "heme" (an iron compound) and "globin" (a simple protein), and functions to bind with oxygen and carbon dioxide. Hemaglobin is resonsible for giving arterial blood its bright red apprearance. 

What is a reticulocyte? 

Is an immature erythrocyte.

How long does it take for a reticulocyte take to develop into a mature RBC? 

within 48 hours of release into the circulation. 

What is Hemolysis? 

Is the destruction of RBCs by monocytes and macrophages which remove abnormal, defective, damaged, and old RBCs from circulation.

Where does hemolysis normally occur? 

Occurs in the bone marrow, liver, and spleen.

What is the normal life span of an erythrocyte? 

120 days. 

Hemolysis of RBCs causes the body to produce what?

Bilirubin

What are the two types of Leukocytes? 

granulocytes and agranulocytes

What are the primary functions of granulocytes?

What are the three types of granulocytes? 

What are the three types of agranulocytes? 

Lympthocytes and monocytes.