blood (redirected from of the blood)

blood (blud) the fluid circulating through the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins, carrying nutriment and oxygen to body cells, and removing waste products and carbon dioxide. It consists of the liquid portion (the plasma) and the formed elements (erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets).

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arterial blood  oxygenated blood, found in the pulmonary veins, the left chambers of the heart, and the systemic arteries.

citrated blood  blood treated with sodium citrate or citric acid to prevent its coagulation.

cord blood  that contained in umbilical vessels at time of delivery of the infant.

occult blood  that present in such small quantities that it is detectible only by chemical tests or by spectroscopic or microscopic examination.

predonated autologous blood  blood donated prior to surgery or other invasive procedure for use in a possible autotransfusion.

venous blood  blood that has given up its oxygen to the tissues and is carrying carbon dioxide back through the systemic veins for gas exchange in the lungs.

whole blood  that from which none of the elements has been removed, sometimes specifically that drawn from a selected donor under aseptic conditions, containing citrate ion or heparin, and used as a blood replenisher.

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blood (bld)

n.

1. The fluid consisting of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets that is circulated by the heart through the arteries and veins, carrying oxygen and nutrients to and waste materials away from all body tissues.

2. One of the four humors of ancient and medieval physiology, identified with the blood found in the blood vessels, and believed to cause cheerfulness.

3. Descent from a common ancestor; parental lineage.

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blood

Etymology: AS, blod

the liquid pumped by the heart through all the arteries, veins, and capillaries. The blood is composed of a clear yellow fluid, called plasma, and the formed elements, and a series of cell types with different functions. The major function of the blood is to transport oxygen and nutrients to the cells and to remove carbon dioxide and other waste products from the cells for detoxification and elimination. Adults normally have a total blood volume of 7% to 8% of body weight, or 70 mL/kg of body weight for men and about 65 mL/kg for women. Blood is pumped through the body at a speed of about 30 cm/second, with a complete circulation time of 20 seconds. Compare lymph. See also blood cell, erythrocyte, leukocyte, plasma, platelet.

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blood,

n the fluid circulating through the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins; carries nutrients and oxygen to body tissues.

blood alcohol concentration (BAC),

n the amount of ingested alcohol absorbed into the body's cells and intercellular fluid; measured by a percentage based on milligrams of alcohol per deciliter of blood. The higher the BAC, the greater the physical and mental impairment. Most states have a legal limit of 0.10% (100 mg/dL) or lower for intoxication.

blood, arterial,

n oxygen-rich blood taken away from the heart through the arteries and used as nourishment for the tissues of the body.

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blood

the red fluid that circulates through the heart, arteries, capillaries and veins carrying nutrients and oxygen to the body tissues and metabolites away from them. It consists of a yellow, protein-rich fluid, the plasma, and the cellular elements including leukocytes, erythrocytes and platelets. It has a high viscosity and osmotic tension and clots on exposure to air and to damaged tissue. It has an essential role in the maintenance of fluid balance.

In an emergency, blood cells and antibodies carried in the blood are brought to a point of infection, or blood-clotting substances are carried to a break in a blood vessel. The blood carries hormones from the endocrine glands to the organs they influence. And it helps in the regulation of body temperature by carrying excess heat from the interior of the body to the surface layers of the skin, where the heat is dissipated to the surrounding air. See also bloody.

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arterial blood

oxygenated blood in the arterial side of the circulation between the cardiac ventricles and the capillaries.

blood buffers

substances which enable the blood to absorb much acidity without significant change in pH. The principal ones are the bicarbonate and hemoglobin buffers.

central blood

blood from the pulmonary venous system; sometimes applied to splanchnic blood, or blood obtained from chambers of the heart or from bone marrow.

central venous blood

unoxygenated blood collected centrally from the right atrium or venae cavae.

citrated blood

blood treated with sodium citrate to prevent its coagulation.

blood clotting cascade

see coagulation cascade.

cord blood

that contained in the umbilical vessels at the time of delivery of the fetus.

defibrinated blood

whole blood from which fibrin has been separated during the clotting process.

extracorporeal blood flow

see extracorporeal circulation.

blood in feces

see melena.

blood islet

aggregates of splanchnic mesoderm on the surface of the yolk sac and allantois; the first blood cells in the embryo.

blood lactate

this estimation has good predictive value in a number of diseases, e.g. intestinal obstruction in horses.

blood in milk

appears as clots or as diffuse red tint. Common only in recently calved cows or after trauma. Of no disease significance but renders the milk unsuitable for sale.

Blood clots in pink milk. By permission from Blowey RW, Weaver AD, Diseases and Disorders of Cattle, Mosby, 1997

occult blood

that present in such small amounts as to be detectable only by chemical tests or by spectroscopic or microscopic examination. See also occult blood test.

blood osmolality

see serum osmolality.

peripheral blood

that obtained from the circulation remote from the heart; the blood in the systemic circulation.

selective blood agar

see blood agar.

shunted blood

blood which is not oxygenated in the lung because it passes through unaerated tissue.

sludged blood

blood in which the red cells have become aggregated into clumps and is most marked where the flow rate is slowest, i.e. in the capillaries.

blood solutes

see individual elements, metabolic products, hormones and the like.

stiff blood agar

see blood agar.

blood substitutes

synthetic substances that may be used in place of blood or its components include dextran, hydroxyethyl starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gelatin and perfluorocarbon.

blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

see urea nitrogen.

blood urea test

see urea nitrogen.

blood in urine

see hematuria.

venous blood

blood which has passed through the capillaries and discharged its oxygen load to tissues and relieved the tissue load of carbon dioxide by absorbing it, and is on its way to the lungs to reverse these processes; is dark red in color due to the high concentration of reduced hemoglobin.

blood volume expanders

are used in the treatment of shock to restore tissue perfusion. Various fluids including whole blood, plasma, crystalloids and colloids may be used.

blood in vomitus

see hematemesis.

whole blood

that from which none of the elements has been removed, especially that drawn from a selected donor under aseptic conditions, containing citrate ion or heparin, and used as a blood replenisher.

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blood

Hematology A circulating tissue composed of a fluid portion–plasma, suspended formed elements–RBCs, WBCs, platelets, and other components, including CO₂, O₂, proteins, glucose, cholesterol and other fats, which circulates in a closed system–the heart, arteries, capillaries and veins, and is charged with transporting O₂ and nutrients to cells, and removing CO₂ and waste products to the appropriate sites. Cf Artificial blood, Bad blood, Deoxygenated blood, Euroblood, Fecal occult blood, Frozen blood, Leukocyte-poor blood, Occult blood, Safe blood, Strawberry cream blood, Umbilical cord blood, Whole blood, Yellow blood. Cf Snake blood.

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Patient discussion about of the blood.

Q. Can blood cancer be transmitted? If I, let’s just say, cut my self. Then someone’s blood came in contact of my wound. Can I get blood cancer too? Is it like AIDS?

A. First off all you mean Leukemia (the proper name for “blood cancer”), and as far as I know- no, you can’t. my son had Leukemia and I read a lot of information about it and never saw any warning about infectiousness of Leukemia.

Q. How can I prevent blood clots? I am 45 years old and am supposed to go on a business trip overseas. The flight itself is 12 hours long and then I have to continue traveling by bus. Could this cause me to have blood clots? If so, how can I prevent it?

A. Sitting or laying in one position for a long period of time can increase the risk of developing DVT- deep vein thrombosis. Here are some methods to prevent it:
Exercise your calf and foot muscles regularly:
Every half hour or so, bend and straighten your legs, feet and toes when you are seated.
Press the balls of your feet down hard against the floor or foot-rest every so often. This helps to increase the blood flow in your legs
Take a walk up and down the aisle every hour or so, when the aircraft crew say it is safe to do so.
If you are allowed, get off the plane and walk about if the plane stops for refueling.
Consider buying a leg exerciser for the journey.
Drink plenty of water (to avoid dehydration).
Do not drink too much alcohol. (Alcohol can cause dehydration and immobility.)
Do not take sleeping tablets, which cause immobility.
Consider wearing compression stockings.
Some people at high risk may also be advised to take anticoagulant medication by their Dr.

Q. Why do alcoholics spew blood? I saw someone vomiting blood and my brother said it is because he’s an alcoholic but couldn’t explain why…

A. Alcohol affects many different things in the body. This sounds very serious and he probably needs immediate medical attention. When your body is trying to process something that is harming it at the same time, many things are going on and being destroyed.