(8) Basic Blood Flashcards
Blood is a _______ connective tissue
fluid
Blood consists of three “formed element” components:
- Erythrocytes (red blood cells)
- Leukocytes (white blood cells)
- Thrombocytes (platelets)
Function of blood?
- Delivery of nutrients/oxygen
- Transport of wastes and CO2
- Delivery of hormones
- Maintenance of homeostasis
What is hematocrit?
Packed RBCs
What is the buffy coat? What percentage of blood volume?
Leukocytes and platelets
1%
Blood plasma?
- LIQUID
- Solvent for solutes
- Interstitial fluid: fluid surrounding tissue cells, derived from blood plasma
What are the components of blood plasma?
Water >90%
Protein 8%
Other solutes 1-2%
What are the common plasma proteins?
- Albumin
- Globulins
- Fibrinogen
What is serum?
Blood plasma without clotting factors
What is albumin:
Plasma protein
- THE MAIN ONE; 50% of plasma protein concentration
- *Colloid osmotic pressure (impt. kidney fxn)
- Carrier protein; thyroxine, bilirubin, barbiturates
What are globulins?
- Immunoglobulins (gamma globulin) : Immune
- Non-immune globulins (alpha and beta) : osmotic pressure maintenance, carrier proteins
What is Fibrinogen?
LARGEST
- Soluble; gets converted to insoluble FIBRIN
- Changes shape
- Forms impermeable net to prevent blood loss
Erythrocytes:
Describe
- Anucleate cells devoid of typical organelles
- Biconcave disc, flexible
- Bind O2, for delivery to tissue and bind CO2 for removal from tissues
*Lifespan 120 days, phagocytosed in spleen, bone marrow and liver
Erythocytes are considered a histologic _____
Ruler;
Always the same size!
Reticulocytes:
Describe
Immature RBCs released into circulation from bone marrow;
STAINING: Still can have organelles, IDed with blueish staining, overall can be larger
*will mature in 24-48 hours
Erythrocyte Cytoskeleton:
What are the two proteins involved?
- Glycoprotein C
- Band 3 protein
Erythrocyte Cytoskeleton:
What does glycoprotein C do?
Attaches underlying cytoskeletal protein network to cell membrane
Erythrocyte Cytoskeleton:
What does Band 3 protein do?
Binds hemoglobin and acts as an anchoring site for the cytoskeletal proteins (most abundant)
Erythrocyte Cytoskeleton:
What are the peripheral membrane proteins?
- SPECTRIN proteins: Alpha-spectrin and Beta-spectrin
- Band 4.1 protein complex
- Ankyrin protein complex
What is Anemia?
- Decreased Hb levels
- Most caused by reduction in RBCs
What causes Anemia?
Insufficient dietary:
- Fe
- Vitamin B12
- Folic acid
Or Hereditary issues
Sx of Anemia?
Weakness, fatigue, loss of energy, frequent headaches, difficulty concentrating
What is hemolytic anemia?
accelerated destruction of RBCs
What is Hereditary spherocytosis?
DEFECTIVE ANCHOR POINTS, spherical erythrocytes
