Chapter 7 Blood vascular system
The blood vascular system is made up of four parts:
Blood
Functions
Transport
Regulation
Blood plays a vital role in homeostasis by regulating:
Composition of blood
Blood is a red fluid that is carried by the blood vessels of the circulatory system. It is composed of a fluid part, the plasma, and a solid part, the blood cells (Fig. 7.1). Plasma forms part of extracellular fluid (ECF) (see Ch. 1). Each constituent of the blood plays a specific part in the overall function of blood.
Plasma
In addition to these, plasma contains:

Blood cells
The blood cells (Fig. 7.1) make up the solid component of blood and can be divided into three types:
Before studying the different types of blood cell it is useful to understand a number of terms.
Erythrocytes (or red blood cells)

Fig. 7.2 The cellular components of blood.
(With permission from Colville T, Bassett JM 2001 Clinical anatomy and physiology for veterinary technicians. Mosby, St Louis, MO, p 197.)
Leucocytes (or white blood cells)
Granulocytes
Agranulocytes
Agranulocytes have a clear cytoplasm. There are two types:
Blood clotting
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