132 ANA TO MY AND PH YSIOL OGY FOR NURSES 



times almost approaching to black, when it is drawn from 

 a vein. It has a salty taste and a peculiar odor. The 

 reaction is faintly alkaline; at a temperature of 60 F. the 

 specific gravity is 1.055. The temperature of the blood 

 as it passes through its course in the arteries is about 

 1 00 F., but it may vary under different circumstances in 

 health from fatigue, overaction, and other conditions. 

 It coagulates rapidly, the serum separating and leaving the 

 clot, which is termed the crassamentum. 



Distribution. After leaving the arteries the blood 

 passes through the capillary networks of the various tissues, 

 where the nutriment diffuses through the delicate vessel 

 walls and nourishes the part. At the same time the waste 

 materials resulting from tissue changes are thrown into 

 the circulation to be carried away and eliminated from the 

 body. 



The blood is composed of the plasma or liquor sanguinis, 

 and of the corpuscles. The plasma contain proteids, fats, 

 extractive matters, and salts. 



The Corpuscles. The corpuscles of the blood are 

 of two kinds, and are known as the red and the white 

 corpuscles. The red corpuscles exist in greater number 

 than the white. The blood, therefore, is a fluid, which 

 provides a means of suspending these important constitu- 

 ents; this fluid is named liquor sanguinis or "plasma," and 

 must not be confused with the "serum" (see p. 136), which 

 is formed during the coagulation of blood. It is serum and 

 something more, for it contains one at least of the elements 

 or factors from which fibrin is formed. 



The table from "Gray's Anatomy" will show the rela- 

 tion, which will be easily understood by the nurse: 



Corpuscle 

 Blood 



Liquor sanguinis 



