Blood Flashcards
How much blood does an average human have?
5 litres.
What is the ideal pH range?
7.35-7.45.
What are some of the roles of blood?
Transport of oxygen, CO2, nutrients and excretory products; regulation of the body in ways such as delivering hormones and diversion of blood in homeostasis and temperature control;protection such as the role of leukocytes in infection.
What is a hematocrit used for?
Rapid assessment of blood composition using centrfuging.
How are blood cells generated?
The bone marrow - from hematopoietic stem cells. These are undifferentiated cells capable of producing the precursors of different blood cells.
How do platelets look different from other types of blood cell?
They are cell fragments and do not have a nucleus. They are also discoid shaped.
What is the production of platelets controlled by?
Thrombopoietin - this is a hormone that is mainly produced by the liver and activates megakaryocytes, therefore stimulating platelet production.
How is the number of platelets in the blood regulated?
If the platelet count is normal, the platelets will be bound to thrombopoietin. If the count is low, TPO (thrombopoietin) is free and unbound so more platelets can be produced.
How are platelets activated?
If the epithelial layer is damaged, proteins underneath (including collagen and connective tissue) are exposed. The platelets attach to the collagen and become activated.
What is thromboxane A2 and what does it do?
It’s a signalling molecule that can feedback and activate more platelets. It can cause the platelets to aggregate - positive feedback. It also results in the contraction of vascular smooth muscle, resulting in vasoconstriction.
What benefit does platelets aggregating have?
It creates a plug at the site of injury.
Give a summarised description of the platelet plug formation.
Unactivated platelets contain secreting granules. Glycoprotein receptors on the surface of the platelet bind onto the site of damage directly onto the collagen or onto a sub-endothelial protein. Activation occurs (shape change) which triggers the release mechanism. Signalling molecules are released into the extracellular environment, including ADP and serotonin. These activate neighbouring platelets, and triggers a change in shape to become more dendritic. If fibrinogen receptors are activated, it causes them to bind to fibrinogen and the platelets become attached together.
Fibrinogen forms the bridges between aggregating platelets
What is erythropoiesis?
The formation of blood cells that happens in the bone marrow.
What is anaemia?
The decreased ability to transport oxygen due to a reduced number of RBCs/haemoglobin per RBC or both options. There may be a dietary deficiency of iron, bone marrow failure, poor production of EPO or increased destruction of RBCs.
What are monocytes?
Cells that can differentiate into a second cell type called a macrophage. They are the largest of the blood cells and have an irregular, often lobed nucleus. They contain 5 granules.
What do neutrophils look like?
They have a distinct nucleus (not round) and they are lobular and granular.
have a distinct nucleus with 2-5 lobes
What are lymphocytes?
Natural killer cells that lyse target cells.
They have a large nucleus and a small number of granules with lysosomal enzymes
include B cells, T helpers and natural killer cells
Provide protection against specific pathogens
What are basophils?
They are involved in allergic reactions and contain histamine and heparin. Skin rash and anaphalactic shock.
What is eryhthropoietin and what does it do?
It is a hematopoietic growth factor that stimulates the production of erythrocytes.
How are platelets formed from megakaryocytes?
They fragment into platelets.
What are the two main stages in blood clotting?
Primary haemostasis and secondary haemostasis. The plug is formed in primary and the plug is stabilised and transformed into a clot by a fibrin network in the second stage.
What is haemotoma?
The accumulation of blood in tissues - forms a bruise.
How do platelets adhere to collagen fibres?
Via an intermediate protein called von Willebrand factor (vWF). It forms a bridge between the damaged blood vessel and the circulating platelet.
What are the three main steps in platelet action?
Platelet activation, platelet aggregation and platelet plug formation.
What proteins are in platelets that enhance plug formation?
Actin and myosin that can contract in activated platelets.
How is the formation of the platelet plug prevented from spreading to the healthy body?
Healthy endothelial cells synthesise Prostacyclin and nitric oxide.
These are inhibitors of platelet activation/aggregation
How is a clot formed?
Vessel damage exposes subenodthelial layer, and contact of blood with underlying layer activates a cascade of enzymes that result in the activation of Thrombin. Thrombin cleaves fibrinogen into fibrin - these bind together to form a loose meshwork.