Blood

Question 1

Roughly how much blood is in the average 70kg man?

Answer 1

5L

Question 2

There are 3 types of plasma proteins. What are they?

Answer 2

Albumin
Globulin
Fibrinogen

Question 3

Describe the basic function of Albumin.

Answer 3

It’s like a train around the venous system

Involved with binding drugs, steroid hormones, lipids etc

Stabilises their transport through the venous system

Question 4

Globulin is subdivided into 3 more types.

List these, and describe their basic functions.

Answer 4

Alpha, beta, gamma

A + B = transport or lipids and vitamins

G = antibodies

Question 5

Fibrinogen is a key factor in what bodily process?

Answer 5

Clotting and thrombosis

Question 6

Many plasma proteins are involved with transport of compounds around the body, and prevent them from being excreted as waste.

How do they prevent this?

Answer 6

Plasma proteins are not filtered out at the kidney

So they protect the stuff they’re bound to from being filtered out

Question 7

What is wrong with this statement

‘Plasma proteins are like trains. They transport the molecules we need from the blood to the correct cells.’

Answer 7

Plasma proteins do not leave circulation

∴ they cannot deliver to the cells

Question 8

“Plasma proteins are responsible for creating ______ ______ pressure”

Answer 8

Colloid oncotic pressure

Question 9

Net movement of fluid across the capillary wall is subject to 2 forces. What are they?

Answer 9

Colloid oncotic pressure

Capillary hydrostatic pressure

Question 10

Describe how low [plasma protein] can lead to oedema.

Answer 10

Low [PP] ∴ low COP

Low pressure ∴ fluid build up in extremities due to gravity = oedema

Question 11

All cells in blood arise from what?

Answer 11

Pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells

Question 12

Erythroblasts are found in bone marrow.

What do they differentiate into?

Answer 12

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells

Question 13

What is the most abundant cell in blood?

Answer 13

RBC

Question 14

Erythropoiesis is controlled by what?

Answer 14

Erythropoietin

Question 15

What will stimulate the body to start producing more red blood cells?

Answer 15

Secretion of erythropoietin is enhanced when the amount of oxygen delivered to the kidneys is reduced

Why?

• red blood cells carry oxygen, so a low amount of rbc’s would mean not enough oxygen is being delivered
• so less oxygen delivery is a good indicator of there not being enough rbc’s

Question 16

What is the most abundant type of leukocyte?

Answer 16

Neutrophils

68%

Question 17

Monocytes initially circulate the body, but eventually migrate to connective tissue and become what?

Answer 17

Macrophages

Question 18

White blood cell formation is controlled by what?

Answer 18

Release of cytokines

Question 19

Leukocyte formation is dynamic, and specific to what pathogens are cutting about the body.

Why is this useful from a diagnosis point of view?

Answer 19

Differential white cell count allows you to tell what type of infection a patient has

Question 20

Thrombopoietin governs the production of what?

Answer 20

Platelets

Question 21

What is the function of platelets?

Answer 21

Adhere to damaged vessel walls and exposed connective tissue

Mediates blood clotting

Question 22

The breakdown products of red blood cells gives blood plasma it’s yellow tinge. What is it called, and where is it produced?

Answer 22

Bilirubin

Produced in spleen