Basic Blood

Question 1

What is the definition of blood and its components?

Answer 1

Fluid connective tissue that circulates throughout the cardiovascular system- consist of cells, protein rich fluid and plasma

Question 2

What are the functions of the blood?

Answer 2

Delivery of nutrients, hormones, regulatory substances and oxygen
Transport of waste and CO2
Maintenance of homeostasis, act as a buffer and help with coagulation

Question 3

What is the hematocrit?

Answer 3

The volume of RBCs in a sample of blood- leuks and platelets are only 1 percent of sample

Question 4

What is the Buffy coat?

Answer 4

The one percent of blood that consist of platelets and leukocytes when a sample of blood is centrifuged out.

Question 5

What is in the blood plasma?

Answer 5

About 90 percent water and acts as a solvent for solutes like protein, regulatory substances, electrolytes and waste

Question 6

What are plasma proteins?

Answer 6

Albumin, globulins and fibrinogen

Question 7

What is albumin?

Answer 7

Main protein in the blood plasma, more than 50 percent- made in the liver- responsible for colloid osmotic pressure and carrier protein for thyroxine, bilirubin and barbiturates

Question 8

What is a globulin?

Answer 8

There are alpha, beta and gamma globulins- the gamma is immunoglobulin while alpha and beta globulin are used for coagulation, maintaining osmotic pressure and lipoproteins

Question 9

What is fibrinogen?

Answer 9

Largest plasma protein, made in the liver- usually soluble but will turn into an insoluble unit to create fibrin. Will polymerize, cross link and will form a mesh preventing any further blood loss.

Question 10

What are erythrocytes?

Answer 10

Anucleated cells with no organelles- Biconcave structure with extreme flexibility. Binds O2 for delivery to tissues and removes CO2 from the tissues.

Question 11

Lifespan of erythrocytes

Answer 11

They last about 120 days in circulation- about 1 percent removed daily. They are phagocytosed by the spleen, bone marrow and liver

Question 12

What are reticulocytes?

Answer 12

Immature RBCs released into circulation from the bone marrow. They still have some organelles and a nucleus but will mature in 24 to 48 hours

Question 13

What are the integral membrane proteins of the Erythrocyte cytoskeleton?

Answer 13

Glycophorin C- Attaches underlying cytoskeleton to the membrane
Band 3 protein- binds hemoglobin and anchors site for cytoskeleton proteins

Question 14

What are the peripheral membrane proteins of erythrocytes?

Answer 14

2-D hexagonal lattice network that consist of alpha spectrin and beta spectrin that are heterodimers that form long flexible tetramers

Question 15

How are the spectrin filaments anchored to the cytoskeleton?

Answer 15

By the band 4.1 protein complex or the ankyrin protein complex.
Band 4.1 protein complex interacts with glycophorin C and ankyrin interacts with band 3

Question 16

What is anemia?

Answer 16

decreased hemoglobin levels. Can be the result of reduced RBC levels from hemorrhaging, hemolytic anemia or nutrient insufficiency

Question 17

What is hereditary spherocytosis?

Answer 17

Autosomal dominant mutation to the ankyrin complex- results in defective anchor points that can cause the membrane to peel off when the cell interacts with arteries. Cells have spherical shape

Question 18

What is hereditary ellipotocytes?

Answer 18

Autosomal dominant mutation to the spectrin to spectrin lateral bonds. This effects the spectrin to ankyrin band 4.1 protein junctions. The membrane will fail to rebound and will eventually develop an elliptical shape

Question 19

What are leukocytes?

Answer 19

Also called white blood cells. 5 different kinds. Basophils, neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes

Question 20

What is the difference between agranulocytes and granulocytes?

Answer 20

Agranulocytes are lymphocytes and monocytes that do not have prominent granules when visualized under a stain. Granulocytes are neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils that have prominent granules when visualized under a stain.

Question 21

What are neutrophils?

Answer 21

Granulocytes that have a multi-lobed nucleus and lack general cytoskeleton staining. They are responsible for responding to acute inflammatory response and tissue damage. They secrete enzymes, recognize/bind bacteria, and ingest damage tissues.

Question 22

What are the different neutrophil granulocytes?

Answer 22

Azurophilic granules- lysosomes containing myeloperoxidase
Specific granules- various enzymes, complement activators and antimicrobial peptides
Tertiary granules- phosphotases and metalloproteinsases

Question 23

What are the eosinophils?

Answer 23

A granulocyte that has a bi-lobed nucleus that is roughly the same size of neutrophils. They release arylsulfatase and histaminase. Mediate chronic inflammation. These cells increase in response to allergies or parasitic infections.

Question 24

What are basophils?

Answer 24

granulocytes that are about the same size of neutrophils. Their nucleus is generally obscured by granules. Functionally related to mast cells. Release of vasoactive agents from granules
These cells are responsible for hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis.

Question 25

What is a special function of neuterophils?

Answer 25

They can leave the circulatory system and migrate to different tissues. Controlled by adhesion molecules on endothelial cells that dock the cell then it squeezes between cells. Chemotaxis will direct cell where to go

Question 26

What are lymphocytes?

Answer 26

Large, agranulocytes that have a very large circular nucleus. These cells are not differentiated but will eventually become T/B cells and NK cells

Question 27

What are monocytes?

Answer 27

Large agranulocytes with “heartshaped” nucleus. They differentiate into various phagocytes in tissues- Macrophages or Kupffer cells

Question 28

What are thrombocytes?

Answer 28

small, membrane bound cytoplasmic fragments that are derived from megakaryocyte. They are involved in homeostasis and clotting

Question 29

What is a megakaryocyte?

Answer 29

Cells found in bone marrow that give rise to platelets.

Question 30

What is thrombocytosis?

Answer 30

Repair of vascular damage by platelets. They produce serotonin that promote vasoconstriction then ADP and thromboxane A to promote platelet aggregation.