Table of contents

1. Introduction to Biology2h 42m
2. Chemistry3h 37m
3. Water1h 26m
4. Biomolecules2h 23m
5. Cell Components2h 26m
6. The Membrane2h 31m
7. Energy and Metabolism2h 0m
8. Respiration2h 40m
9. Photosynthesis2h 49m
10. Cell Signaling59m
11. Cell Division2h 47m
12. Meiosis2h 0m
13. Mendelian Genetics4h 44m
14. DNA Synthesis2h 27m
15. Gene Expression3h 6m
16. Regulation of Expression3h 31m
17. Viruses37m
- Viruses
  37m
18. Biotechnology2h 58m
19. Genomics17m
- Genomes
  17m
20. Development1h 5m
21. Evolution3h 1m
22. Evolution of Populations3h 53m
23. Speciation1h 37m
24. History of Life on Earth2h 6m
25. Phylogeny2h 31m
26. Prokaryotes4h 59m
27. Protists1h 12m
28. Plants1h 22m
29. Fungi36m
- Fungi
  19m
- Fungi Reproduction
  17m
30. Overview of Animals34m
- Overview of Animals
  34m
31. Invertebrates1h 2m
32. Vertebrates50m
33. Plant Anatomy1h 3m
34. Vascular Plant Transport1h 2m
- Water Potential
  1h 2m
35. Soil37m
- Soil and Nutrients
  20m
- Nitrogen Fixation
  16m
36. Plant Reproduction47m
- Flowers
  33m
- Seeds
  14m
37. Plant Sensation and Response1h 9m
38. Animal Form and Function1h 19m
39. Digestive System1h 10m
- Digestion
  1h 3m
- Blood Sugar Homeostasis
  7m
40. Circulatory System1h 49m
41. Immune System1h 12m
42. Osmoregulation and Excretion50m
- Osmoregulation and Excretion
  50m
43. Endocrine System1h 4m
- Endocrine System
  1h 4m
44. Animal Reproduction1h 2m
- Animal Reproduction
  1h 2m
45. Nervous System1h 55m
- Neurons and Action Potentials
  1h 8m
- Central and Peripheral Nervous System
  46m
46. Sensory Systems46m
- Sensory System
  46m
47. Muscle Systems23m
- Musculoskeletal System
  23m
48. Ecology3h 11m
49. Animal Behavior28m
- Animal Behavior
  28m
50. Population Ecology3h 41m
51. Community Ecology2h 46m
52. Ecosystems2h 36m
53. Conservation Biology24m
- Conservation Biology
  24m

40. Circulatory System

Circulatory and Respiratory Anatomy

General Biology

40. Circulatory System

Circulatory and Respiratory Anatomy

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1:08 minutes

Problem 13

Textbook Question

Here is a blood sample that has been spun in a centrifuge. List, as completely as you can, the components you would find in the straw-colored fluid at the top of this tube and in the dense red portion at the bottom.

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the straw-colored fluid at the top of the tube as plasma.

List the components found in plasma: water, proteins (such as albumin, globulins, and fibrinogen), electrolytes (such as sodium, potassium, calcium, bicarbonate), nutrients (such as glucose, amino acids, lipids), hormones, and waste products (such as urea, creatinine).

Identify the dense red portion at the bottom of the tube as the packed red blood cells (erythrocytes).

Note that the white layer between the plasma and the red blood cells is the buffy coat, which contains white blood cells (leukocytes) and platelets (thrombocytes).

Summarize the components: Plasma (top layer) contains water, proteins, electrolytes, nutrients, hormones, and waste products; the buffy coat (middle layer) contains white blood cells and platelets; the packed red blood cells (bottom layer) contain erythrocytes.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Blood Components

Blood is composed of several key components, primarily plasma and formed elements. Plasma, the liquid portion, makes up about 55% of blood volume and contains water, electrolytes, proteins, hormones, and waste products. The formed elements include red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which are crucial for oxygen transport, immune response, and clotting, respectively.

Centrifugation

Centrifugation is a laboratory technique that uses rapid spinning to separate components of a mixture based on density. In the case of blood, this process causes the denser red blood cells to settle at the bottom of the tube, while the lighter plasma remains on top. This separation allows for the analysis of different blood components and their respective functions.

Plasma Composition

Plasma is a straw-colored fluid that serves as the medium for transporting various substances throughout the body. It contains proteins such as albumin, globulins, and fibrinogen, which play roles in maintaining osmotic pressure, immune function, and blood clotting. Additionally, plasma carries nutrients, waste products, gases, and hormones, making it essential for homeostasis and overall health.

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Textbook Question

Why did separate systemic and pulmonary circulations evolve in species that have the high-pressure circulatory system required for rapid movement of blood?

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