Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Body Systems > Blood > Flashcards

Blood Flashcards

composition, structure and function, blood typing, disorders, etc.

1
Q

What is the percent composition of whole blood?

A

Plasma - 55%
Formed elements - 45%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the percent composition of plasma?

A

Water - 91%
Proteins - 7%
Albumins
Globulins
Fibrinogen
Prothrombin
Other solutes -2%
Ions, nutrients, waste
products, gases, regulatory
substances

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the percent composition of formed elements?

A

Erythrocytes - >99%
Platelets - <1%
Leukocytes - <1%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the normal volume of blood?

A

Plasma - 2.6L
Formed elements - 2.4L
Whole blood - 4 to 6L
7% to 9% of total body weight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Describe blood pH.

A

Blood is alkaline - pH 7.35 to pH 7.45
Acidosis occurs if blood pH decreases toward neutral.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What percent of gases are transported in plasma?

A

About 1.5% of total oxygen
About 10% of total carbon dioxide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

List the white blood cells (leukocytes).

A

Neutrophils - 65-75%
Lymphocytes - 20-25%
Monocytes - 3-8%
Eosinophils - 2-5%
Basophils - 0.5-1%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the blood cell counts of RBCs, WBCs, and platelets?

A

RBCs - 4.5-5 million/mm3 of blood
WBCs - 5000-10,000/mm3 of blood
Platelets - 300,000/mm3 of blood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Explain hematopoiesis.

A

The formation of all new blood cells in the myeloid tissue (red bone marrow).
WBCs finish developing in the lymph nodes, thymus, and spleen.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How long to blood cells live?

A

RBCs - about 4 months
WBCs (granular) - a few days
WBCs (agranular) - over 6 months

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Describe the structure of red blood cells.

A

-Tough, flexible plasma membrane (allowing RBCs to pass through small capillaries)
-Biconcave disc shape (large membrane surface area and reduced spinning as blood flows)
-Absence of nucleus and cytoplasmic organelles (provides more cellular space for hemoglobin; limits life span to about 120 days)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the function of RBCs?

A

Transport of respiratory gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a CBC?

A

Complete blood cell count: battery of laboratory tests used to measure the amounts or levels of many blood constituents.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is a hematocrit (Hct) test?

A

Also called a packed cell volume (PCV) test.
Measures the percentage of RBCs in the whole blood.
Low RBCs - anemia
High RBCs - polycythemia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Describe the structure and function of hemoglobin (Hb).

A

-Quaternary protein made up of four polypeptide chains (2 alpha, 2 beta), each with an oxygen-attracting heme group at the center.
-Iron, folate and B12 needed to manufacture Hb
-transport of respiratory gasses
-role in homeostasis of acid-base balance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is anemia?

A

The inability of blood to carry adequate oxygen to tissues due to:
1) inadequate RBC numbers
2) a deficiency of normal hemoglobin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is hemorrhagic anemia?

A

Decreased RBC numbers caused by blood loss (hemorrhage).

18
Q

What is aplastic anemia?

A

Decreased RBC numbers caused by destruction of blood-forming elements in bone marrow.

19
Q

What is pernicious anemia?

A

Lack of intrinsic factor in stomach reduces availability of vitamin B12 needed for RBC production.

20
Q

What is sickle cell anemia?

A

Inherited defective gene or genes produce an abnormal type of hemoglobin that is less able to carry oxygen and which often forms clumps of RBCs that block blood vessels.

21
Q

What is an antigen?

A

Substance than can activate immune system.

22
Q

What is an antibody?

A

Substance made by the body in response to stimulation by an antigen.

23
Q

What are the ABO blood types?

A

Type A blood - type A self-antigens in RBCs; anti-B type antibodies in plasma
Type B blood - type B self-antigens in RBCs; anti-A type antibodies in plasma
Type AB blood - type A and type B self-antigens in RBCs; no anti-A or anti-B antibodies in plasma
Type O blood - no type A or type B self antigens in RBCs; both anti-A and anti-B antibodies in plasma

24
Q

What is the Rh system of blood typing?

A

Rh positive blood - Rh factor antigen present in RBCs
Rh negative blood - no Rh factor present in RBCs

25
Q

What is Erythroblastosis Fetalis?

A

May occur when Rh-negative mother carries a second Rh-positive fetus; caused by mother’s Rh antibodies reacting with the fetus’s Rh-positive cells.

26
Q

What is the universal donor blood?

A

Type O-

27
Q

What is the universal recipient blood?

A

Type AB+

28
Q

What are the two types of WBCs?

A

Granulocytes - possess granules that stain.
Agranulocytes - absence of stained granules.

29
Q

What is Leukopenia?

A

Abnormally low WBC count.
-occurs infrequently
-may occur with malfunction of blood-forming tissues or diseases affecting immune system (such as AIDS)

30
Q

What is Leukocytosis?

A

Abnormally high WBC count
-frequent finding it bacterial infections
-classic sign in blood cancers (leukemia)

31
Q

What is a Differential WBC count?

A

Component test in CBC; measures proportions of each type of WBC in blood sample.

32
Q

What are Neutrophils?

A

-granulocyte
-most numerous type of phagocyte
-numbers increase during bacterial infections

33
Q

What are Eosinophils?

A

-granulocyte
-weak phagocyte
-active against parasites and parasitic worms
-involved in allergic reactions

34
Q

What are Basophils?

A

-granulocytes
-related to mast cells in tissue spaces
-secrete histamine (promotes inflammation)
-secrete heparin (an anticoagulant)

35
Q

What are Monocytes?

A

-agranulocyte
-largest leukocyte
-aggressive phagocyte (capable of engulfing larger bacteria and cancer cells)
-develop into much larger cells called macrophages after leaving blood to enter tissue spaces

36
Q

What are Lymphocytes?

A

-agranulocyte
-B lymphocytes (B cells) involved in immunity against disease by secretion of antibodies
-T lymphocytes (T cells) involved in direct attack on bacteria or cancer cells (not antibody production)

37
Q

What are platelets?

A

-Also called thrombocytes
-Tiny cell fragments filled with clot-triggering chemical
-play an essential role in blood clotting

38
Q

Describe the clotting process.

A

1) vasoconstriction of blood vessels
2) damage releases clotting factors that react with plasma factors to create prothrombin activator
3) platelets adhere to the break and form a “platelet plug”
4) prothrombin activator and calcium convert prothrombin to thrombin
5) thrombin reacts with fibrinogen to form fibrin
6) fibrin threads form a tangle to trap RBCs (and other formed elements) to produce a blood clot

39
Q

What is a thrombus?

A

A stationary blood clot

40
Q

What is an embolis?

A

A circulating blood clot

41
Q

What is tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)?

A

A drug used to dissolve already formed blood clots

Body Systems (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions