Blood Flashcards
What is blood?
A special connective tissue
What is the origin of blood?
Mesenchymal cells
What is the function of blood?
1) nutrient and oxygen delivery
2) waste and carbon dioxide removal
3) immune protection
4) circulation contributes to temperature regulation
What are the components in blood?
Erythrocytes
Leukocytes
Thrombocytes
Plasma
What are erythroctes involved in?
02 and C02 exchange
What are leukocytes used for?
immune responses
What is the function of thrombocytes?
Blood clotting
What is plasma ?
proteinaceous solution in which erythrocytes, leukocytes and thrombocytes circulate in
What are the advantages of a biconcave shape for erythrocytes?
1) Provides maximum surface to volume ratio for optimal gas exchange
2) Provides for flexibility for maneuvering through capillaries
What is the average life span of erythrocytes?
120 days
What constitutes a “worn out” erythrocyte?
1) probably due to a diminishing efficiency of cell surface ion pumps
2) loses ability to regulate volume and subsequently swells
3) eventually removed by splenic macrophages
What is hemoglobin?
1) iron-containing heme groups conjugated to globin
2) when rbc’s are removed, iron is recycled and the rest is excreted as bilirubin
What is carbonic anhydrase?
facilitates C02 uptake in tissues anq C02 discharge in the lungs
Are there nucleus and organelles in erythrocytes?
No, expelled during erythropoiesis
What is the surface chemistry of erythrocytes?
cell membrane glycolipids and glycoproteins involved in ABO blood typing
What is anemia?
1)any significant decrease in blood concentration of hemoglobin due to:
• reduction in total number of circulating erythrocytes
• reduction in hemoglobin content in each individual erythrocyte
2) reduced oxygen carrying capacity leaves person chronically tired
What is polycythemia
1) any significant increase in circulating erythrocyte number
2) increases viscosity of blood and hence workload on heart
What is a reticulocyte?
immature erythrocyte found in peripheral blood, contains some residual RNA
What are thrombocytes derived from?
Megakaryocytes
How much of the total body platelets circulate the body at one time? and how many are left in the spleen?
2/3 circulate the body
1/3 are in red pulp of spleen
What is the maximum circulation time for platelets?
about 10 days
What do thromboytes contain?
Various clotting factors
Platelet derived growth factor (promotes proliferation of fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells )
Serotonin (vasoconstrictor)
Do thrombocytes have a nucleus?
No nucleus is present in these fragments of cytoplasm
How do circulating platelets adhere to vascular wall components of damaged endothelium?
1) via integrins (IMP’s with binding specificity for fibronectin)
2) fibronectin is a tissue matrix protein that binds to collagen
When multiple platelets adhere to a damaged site it is known as?
Platelet aggregation which forms a platelet plug and eliminates further blood loss
What does serotonin do?
release causes vasoconstriction by smooth muscle cells and reduces blood loss from damaged vessel
What is fibrinogen converted to and where?
Converted to fibrin and on the surface of activated platelets
What replaces the early platelet plug?
An insoluble fibrin mass (thrombus)
what is the function of Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)?
1) Release causes proliferation of smooth muscle and fibroblasts
2) step in repairing the damaged wall components
WHat is thrombocytopenia?
Platelet deficiency leading to easy bleeding subsequent to minor. trauma