Blood Flashcards
What is the main transport system in human beings?
The circulatory system
In the circulatory system what does the blood flow through? (3)
Arteries, Veins, Capillaries
How many functions of blood are there?
3
What are the three functions of blood?
Transport, Regulation, Protection
What is a buffer?
It is responsible of reducing the shock of something, reduces the impact.
What are the SIX physical characteristics of blood
- Only fluid tissue in body (connective tissue)
- More dense, viscous than H2O
- pH = 7.35-7.45
- Temp = about 38C
- Colour is scarlet (O2 rich) to dark red (O2 poor)
- It’s about 8% of our body weight
Acidosis
when the pH is less than 7.35
Alkalosis
When the pH is more than 7.45
How many liters of blood are there in males? females?
Males: 5-6 L
Females: 4-5 L
What are the components of blood?
Plasma, Buffy coat, Erythrocytes
What are the formed elements of blood?
The buffy coat and erythrocytes
What is the buffy coat made up of?
Leukocytes and platelets
What is the composition of Plasma?
It is straw coloured: 90% is water and many solutes
What is the role of plasma?
Transport! - take nutrients, hormones, and proteins to different parts of the body
What is the role of Albumin?
Helps maintain blood volume
What is a Major Osmotic Protein?
Albumin
What is a Major Osmotic Ion?
Calcium, potassium
Erythrocytes aka RBCs
- Transports oxygen
- small (7.5um) , disc shaped, flexible and biconcave
- has NO nucleus
- no organelles
What is the protein that is in RBCs?
SPECTRIN
What does Spectrin do?
Maintains cell membrane integrity and its mechanical properties S
Spectrin - Solid
Leukocytes aka WBCs
150 thousand to 450 thousand
Why are Leukocytes the only ones considered to be complete cells?
Because they have a nucleus and mitochondria
What is the area in the body that gets rid of RBCs? (RBC graveyard)
SPLEEN
What is hemoglobin?
The protein contained in RBCs that is responsible for DELIVERY OR OXYGEN to the tissues of lungs
Note: red heme pigment bound to protein globin
What would happen if we didnt have hemoglobin in our bodies?
Fatigue!
RBCs have no Mitochondria. What type of ATP production is used?
Anaerobic ATP production
What affects the rate of blood flow?
RBC count!
Do men or women have a lower RBC count
Women
What is the layout of the heme groups? (4)
- an Fe ion in the center of a ring called porphyrin
- O2 binds to Fe ion in heme group
- OxyHb a different shape and colour than DeoxyHb
What is the layout of globin?
4 polypeptide chains (2a and 2B)
- CO2 binds to globin (carbaminohemoglobin)
Why is Hb contained in erythrocytes rather than being a plasma protein? (2 reasons)
- keeps it from fragmenting and being lost
- keeps it from contributing to osmotic pressure and blood viscosity
Hemoglobin layout and function
4 globular subunits. 2 are called alpha chains, two are called beta chains. Each contain one molecule of heme and contain an iron. Oxygen binds to each iron. When oxygen binds to iron in the lungs it is called oxyhb. When the oxyhb travels to oxygen deprived tissues, the oxygen can dissociate, into the tissue renaming it to be deoxyhb. While in the tissue the deoxyhb can pick up a molecule of carbon dioxide and be renamed carbaminoHemoglobin.
