Blood Flashcards
What are the other names for red, white blood cells and platelets.
Erythrocytes, leucocytes and thrombocytes.
Wha are the functions of red and white blood cells and platelets?
Red blood cells- transport CO2 and O2.
White- responsiblee for defence against bugs/bacteria etc.
Platelets- blood clotting.
What is plasma composed of?
Extracellular fluid, water, electrolytes, organic molecules, plasma proteins. Glucose, fatty acids, amino acids etc.
What organ produces plasma proteins and what can damage in this organ can have on these proteins and the body itself?
Plasma proteins are produced in the liver. If albumin is not produced there cannot be a transport of lipids. Albumin transports fat- digestion, affects pressure of water- can cause odema- water in ankles etc.
What is the function of the plasma protein albumin?
Oncotic pressure, transport of lipids.
What is the function of the plasma protein globulins?
-Transport: ions, hormones, lipids;
– Immune functions
What is the function of the plasma protein fibrinogen?
Inactive component.
-Cut-fibrinogen-fibrin (active). BLOOD CLOTTING.
What is the function of the plasma protein regulatory proteins?
Regulation of hormones and enzymes.
What is the blood volume in males and females?
Males- 70ml/kg body weight.
Females- 60ml/kg/body weight.
What is the percentage of plasma and cells in blood?
Plasma- 55%, cells-45%.
What size and shape are red blood cells?
6-8 micrometres in diameter. They are biconcave in shape (bigger on outside and smaller on inside- so that they can expand so they can go through blood vessels, especially capillaries).
What solutions are older RBC more fragile in?
Red blood cells are more fragile in hypotonic solutions.
What is the average life expectancy of a red blood cell?
4 months. 120 days.
How are old red blood cells removed from circulation?
Monocyte phagocytic system. Mainly done in spleen- can happen in the liver swell if they have no spleen.
Where is red bone marrow found?
Sternum, red bone marrow and hip joints, long bones.
Where is the bone marrow biopsy taken from?
Hip bone.
What are the two components of haemoglobin?
Proteins (amino cid pool) and haem (made of iron, bilirubin and biliverdin- breakdown happens in liver).
What is the lifecycle of a red blood cell?
Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and released into circulation. 10% undergo haemolysis (need to be broken down and out of circulation). Pass into kidneys to be peed out. Viable for 120 days and pass into MPS in spleen/liver/bone marrow. Broken down into haem and amino acids. Amino acids get released back into circulation and taken up to form a new red blood cell. The haem gets broken down into different things- biliverdin and bilirubin- done in spleen. Excreted in bile and joins up with other things- passes into poo. This is the dark colour of poo. Some of this absorbed back into circulation- needs to be passed out in kidneys.
What are the stages of erythropoiesis?
1.Happens in bone marrow.
It is regulated by the hormone called erythropoietin (produced in kidneys).
2.Big cell made in bone marrow (includes iron and haem). Passes through a series of stages. Big cell becomes smaller.
3. On day 4 the rbc ejects its nucleus. A mature red blood cell does not have a nucleus. 4.On day 5-7 enters circulation for 120 days.
eg. “pro erythroblast— basophilic erythroblast (darker)—- polychromatophillic erythroblast —- normoblast—- reticulocyte—- red blood cell.”
Can kidney problems effect red blood cell production?
Yes as the hormone that regulates the production of red blood cells is produced in the kidneys.
What is needed in order for erythropoiesis to occur?
- Folic acid and Vit B 12.
- Increase haemoglobin content requires iron.
How does erythropoietin work?
A decrease in red blood cell numbers equals a decreased oxygen delivery to cells and a decreased oxygen content to kidneys. This is detected by the kidneys and erythropoietin is released in response to this. This stimulates red bone marrow to increase red blood cell production.
What is the disadvantages of high erythropoietin levels?
Lots of extra red blood cells- kidney problems.
Never reaches 100% o2 saturation of haem.
What is the normal, healthy percentage of O2 saturation of haemoglobin?
97/8%.
