Terminology

Blood Components and Functions

Component	Function
Red Blood Cells or Erythrocytes	They carry the protein hemoglobin, which transports oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body
White Blood Cells or Leukocytes	They are primarily responsible for protecting the body from infection.
Platelets or Thrombocytes	They help the blood clotting process (or coagulation) by gathering at the site of an injury.
Plasma	It is the liquid component of blood and transports blood cells throughout the body along with nutrients, waste products, antibodies, clotting proteins, chemical messengers such as hormones, and proteins that help maintain the body's fluid balance

Types of White Blood Vessels (Leukocytes)

Name	Function
Basophil	Normal white blood cell which increase with bone marrow damage, parasitic infections, or allergic reactions.
Eosinophil	A type of white blood cell that controls mechanism associated with allergies and defends the body from infection by parasites and bacteria.
Lymphocyte	Two types T lymphocytes which help regulate the function of other immune cells and directly attacks infected cells and tumors and B lymphocytes which make antibodies.
Monocyte	A white blood cell that ingests bacteria and foreign particles.
Neutrophil	The most common type of white blood cell, which helps the body fight infection.

Types of Blood Vessels and Functions

Blood Vessel	Function
Arteries	Artery carry oxygenated blood under high pressure from the heart to other parts of the body.
Veins	Veins carry deoxygenated blood from the organs and tissues back to the heart.
Capillary	Capillaries connect arteries and veins.

Main Blood Vessels and Functions

Type of Blood Vessel	Name of Blood Vessel	Function
Artery	Aorta	Largest and principal artery which circulates oxygenated blood to all parts of the body through its branches.
	Coronary Artery	A branch of Aorta which supplies oxygenated blood to the heart tissues.
	Pulmonary Artery	Only artery which carries deoxygenated blood. It carries blood from the heart to the lungs for purification.
Vein	Superior Vena Cava	This vein returns deoxygenated blood from the head, arms and thorax to the heart.
	Inferior Vena Cava	This vein returns deoxygenated blood from the abdomen and legs to the heart.
	Coronary Vein	This vein returns deoxygenated blood from the heart muscles to the heart.
	Pulmonary Veins	Four pulmonary veins, two from each lung carry oxygenated blood from lungs to the heart.

Blood Group Relation between Parents and Child

		Father's Blood Group
Mothers's Blood Group		A	B	AB	O
	A	A or O	A, B, AB, O	A, Bor AB	A or O
	B	A, B, AB, O	B or O	A, B or AB	B or O
	AB	A, B or AB	A, B or AB	A, B or AB	A or B
	O	A or O	B or O	A or B	O
		Child's Blood Group

Disorder relating to blood

Main disorder	Specific	Brief details
Anaemia	Irondeficiency Anaemia	Results from deficiency of iron usually due to blood loss or poor nutrition.
	Vitamindeficiency Anaemia	Results from low levels of Vitamin B12 or folic acid due to poor nutrition.
	Aplastic Anaemia	Occurs when the body stops making enough red blood cells. This may be due to viral infections, exposure to toxic chemicals, drugs, and autoimmune diseases.
	Hemolytic Anaemia	Occurs when abnormal breakdown of red blood cells takes place.
	Sickle Cell Anaemia	It is a hereditary blood disorder, in which red blood cells taking a rigid, sickle shape. This decreases the cells' flexibility and may result in lifethreatening complications.
Bleeding Disorders	von Willebrand Disease	It is the most common hereditary coagulation abnormality that results when the blood lacks von Willebrand factor, a protein that helps the blood to clot.
	Haemophilia	It is a rare, usually inherited, bleeding disorder characterised by body's inability to control blood clotting or coagulation. It results from a genetic defect in Xchromosome.
Blood Cancers	Leukemia	Characterised by rapid production of abnormal white blood cells which cannot fight infection and also impair the ability of the bone marrow to produce red blood cells and platelets.
	Lymphoma	Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that occurs when lymphocytes, the white blood cells that form a part of the immune system, divide faster than normal cells or live longer than they are supposed to.
	Myeloma	This type of cancer targets the plasma cells which produce antibodies, thus weaken the immune system of the body.

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