Blood Flashcards
Why is it important that blood has a high heat capacitance?
Thermoregulation
How many liters of blood are in men (on average)? Women?
5 liters for women
5.5 liters for men
What are the three separate layers of a blood sample that are seen when spun out? What percent of the blood are each?
Blood layer -42%
Buffy white coat -min
Plasma -58%
The blood is what percent of the body weight?
7-8%
What are the three major categories of the components of plasma?
Water
Proteins
Other solutes
What the four categoeries of proteins in plasma? Which is found in highest concerntration?
Albumin**
Globuin
Fibrininogen
Regulatory protein
What are the three types of cells in the blood in order of their abundance?
- RBCs
- Platelets
- WBCs (basophil lowest)
What is serum? How does this compare to plasma?
Plasma without fibrinogens and other coagulation factors
What is a mEq?
mM of ion multiplied by its charge
What is the anion gap calculation?
[Na] - ([Cl[ +[HCO3])
What are the primary cations in the plasma? Interstitial fluids? Intracellular fluid?
Plasma = Na
Interstitial fluid = Na
Intracellular fluid = K
What are the primary anions in the plasma? Interstitial fluids? Intracellular fluid?
Plasma = Cl and HCO3
Interstitial fluid = Cl and HCO3
Intracellular fluid = HPO4/proteins
What is the normal range of the anion gap?
8-16 mEg/L
What does the anion gap measure?
The anions that are not measured
What is the reason for looking at the anion gap?
Looks for metabolic acidosis
What can cause an increased anion gap?
Acidosis (DKA, lactic/salicylic acidosis)
What causes an increased anion gap?
[HCO3] goes down d/t increase in acids
Can you have a normal anion gap with acidosis?
Yes, if Cl balances out the loss of HCO3 (or vice versa)
How does hypoalbuminemia affect the anion gap?
Decreases anion gap d/t retention of CL and HCO3
What is osmolality?
osmoles of solute / Kg of solvent
What is an osmole?
Moles of solute times the number of ions or particles upon its dissociation in solution
What are the five major determinants of osmolality?
Na, Cl, HCO3, BUN, and glucose
The molality of plasma is higher or lower than interstitial fluid? Why?
Slightly higher because the plasma contains proteins (albumin) that cannot cross the capillary membrane
What is the osmotic pressure?
Pressure produced by the plasma proteins
What is albumin?
Transporter for FFAs, Ca, Cu, steroids, bili etc
Loss of albumin leads to what?
Edema
What is the primary cause of colloid osmotic pressure? What percent does this contribute?
Albumin–70-80% of colloid osmotic pressure
What percent of plasma protein is made up of albumin?
58%
What can cause hypoalbuminemia?
Malnutrition
Liver disease
Malabsorption
What can cause hypoalbuminemia?
Overhydration
Sepsis
hypoxia
Nephrotic syndrome
What is the function of gamma-globulins?
Immunoglobulins
What is the purpose of transferrin?
Binds free Fe (since free Fe is toxic)
Is free Fe toxic?
Yes
What is the function of haptoglobin?
Binds free Hb that can enter the plasma after the lysis of RBCs to transport it to the liver
Can Hb be excreted in the urine? Can Hb + haptoglobin?
Yes for Hb, it is small enough
No for Hb + haptoglobin
What happens to the HB/HP complex?
Macrophages in liver and spleen endocytose it to conserve Fe
What is the half-life of free haptoglobin?
5 days
What is half-life of haptoglobin when bound to HB?
90 minutes
What would happen to plasma Hb and haptoglobin levels during an episodes of increased intravascular hemolysis?
Decreased haptoglobin levels
Increased Hb levels
What happens to platelets when it binds collagen/ligands in the vessels?
Increases surface area through projections
What is the purpose of a blood smear?
Estimate the relative abundance of different cells (RBCs, WBCs, platelets etc), size,or color of RBCs