This document provides information about blood transfusions and the reticuloendothelial system. It begins with an introduction to blood transfusions, explaining that they involve transferring whole blood or blood components into the bloodstream to treat conditions like anemia. It then discusses the different blood types, components that can be transfused like red blood cells, platelets, plasma, and granulocytes. Finally, it describes the reticuloendothelial system as a network of phagocytic cells throughout the body that help clear particles and substances from the blood and tissues, including the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and lymph nodes.

1. Human Anatomy & Physiology-I
Blood Transfusion & Reticuloendothelial System
Presented By: Lovekesh Singh
Assistant Professor
ISF College of Pharmacy

2. Introduction
A transfusion is the transfer of whole blood or blood
components (red blood cells only or blood plasma only) into
the bloodstream or directly into the red bone marrow. A
transfusion is most often given to treat anemia, to increase
blood volume (for example, after a severe hemorrhage), or
to improve immunity.

3. A blood transfusion is the transfer of blood or blood products from one person
(donor) into another person's bloodstream (recipient). This is usually done as a
lifesaving maneuver to replace blood cells or blood products lost through severe
bleeding, during surgery when blood loss occurs or to increase the blood count
in an anemic patient.
Blood types
There are four blood types:
1. A
2. B
3. AB, or
4. O
Every person has one of the above four blood types. In addition, each person's
blood is either:
1. Rh-positive
2. Rh-negative.

4. Type O blood - universal donors
•Type O negative blood is safe for just about everyone. People with type O
negative blood are referred to as universal donors; and type O negative blood is
used for emergencies in which there is no time to test a person's blood type.
Type AB blood - universal recipients
•Individuals who have type AB positive blood are referred to as universal
recipients. This means that they can receive any type of blood.
Rh-positive and Rh-negative
•People who have Rh-positive blood can receive Rh-positive or Rh-negative
blood.
•If a person has Rh-negative blood, they should only receive Rh-negative blood.
•Rh-negative blood is used for emergencies when there is not time to test a
person's Rh type.

5. Types of blood transfusion
Red Blood Cell Transfusions
• Red blood cells are the most commonly transfused components of
the blood. These cells carry oxygen from the lungs to body's organs
and tissues. They also help the body get rid of carbon dioxide and
other waste products.
• You may need a transfusion of red blood cells if you've lost blood due
to an injury or surgery. You also may need this type of transfusion if
you have severe anemia due to disease or blood loss.
• Anemia is a condition in which the blood has a lower number than
normal number of red blood cells. Anemia also can occur if red blood
cells don't have enough hemoglobin.
• Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that gives blood its red color. This
protein carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

6. Platelets and Clotting Factor Transfusions
• Platelets and clotting factors help stop bleeding, including
internal bleeding that you can't see. Some illnesses may cause
your body to not make enough platelets or clotting factors. You
may need regular transfusions of these blood products to stay
healthy.
• For example, if you have hemophilia, you may need a special
clotting factor to replace the clotting factor you're lacking.
Hemophilia is a rare, inherited bleeding disorder in which your
blood doesn't clot normally.
• If you have hemophilia, you may bleed for a longer time than
others may after an injury or accident. You also may bleed
internally, especially in the joints (knees, ankles, and elbows).

7. Plasma Transfusions
• Plasma is the liquid part of your blood. It's mainly water, but
also contains proteins, clotting factors, hormones, vitamins,
cholesterol, sugar, sodium, potassium, calcium, and more.If you
have been badly burned or have liver failure or a severe
infection, you may need a plasma transfusion.

8. Granulocyte Transfusion
• Granulocytes are a type of white blood cell a body needs to
fight bacterial and fungal infections.
• Some patients may have serious, life-threatening infections
that do not respond to appropriate antibiotics and they may
have low levels of granulocytes.
• This may be due to their disease or treatment for their disease.
These patients may require transfusions of granulocytes for a
short time period to help fight their infections.
• Granulocytes are collected from donors using apheresis. As
with platelets, it is best if a patient receives granulocytes from a
donor of the same blood type.

9. Reticuloendothelial System
• The reticuloendothelial system (RES) is a heterogeneous population
of phagocytic cells in systemically fixed tissues that play an important
role in the clearance of particles and soluble substances in the
circulation and tissues.
• Substances that are cleared include immune complexes, bacteria,
toxins, and exogenous antigens.
• Reticuloendothelial system is a network of cells and tissues found
throughout the body, especially in the blood, general connective
tissue, spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow, and lymph nodes.
• Some of the reticuloendothelial cells found in the blood and in the
general connective tissue are unusually large in size.

11. Conti….
• The composition of the reticuloendothelial system includes Kupffer cells
of the liver, microglia of the brain, alveolar macrophages and bone
marrow lymph nodes, and macrophages in the intestine and other
tissues.
• Some of the cells are motile—that is, capable of spontaneous motion—
and phagocytic—they can ingest and destroy unwanted foreign material.
• The reticuloendothelial cells of the SPLEEN possess the ability to dispose o
f disintegrated erythrocyts. They do not, however, destroy hemoglobin, w
hich is liberated in the process.
• The reticuloendothelial cells located in the blood cavities of the LIVER are
called Kupffer cells. These cells, together with the cells of the general con
nective tissue and bone marrow, are capable of transforming into bile pig
ment the hemoglobin released by disintegrated erythrocytes.

12. References
• Gerard J. Tortora (2003). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology.
Edition-10th.
• Anne Waugh and Alison Grant (2007) Anatomy and Physiology.
Edition-12th

13. THANKS