Blood

Question 1

what are the three cell types found in blood

Answer 1

red blood cells (erythrocytes )
white blood cells (leucocytes)
platelets (thrombocytes)

Question 2

what does the biconcave shape of rbcs allow for

Answer 2

rapid gas exchange
bend in narrow capillaries
large surface area
expand to accomodate hypotoni solutions

Question 3

where are rbcs formed

Answer 3

red bone marrow

Question 4

how are old rbcs removed from circulation

Answer 4

MPS system - phagocytic system

breakdown products are recycled

Question 5

what are the breakdown products of haemoglobin

Answer 5

protein (globin)
iron (recycled)
haem - broken down to bilirubin and excreted as bile pigment by liver

Question 6

erythropoeisis

Answer 6

process of rbc formation

Question 7

erythropoietin

Answer 7

produced in kidneys, hormone that is released in response to decreased oxygen in kidneys due to decrease in rbcs (e.g due to injury) and stimulates rbc production on red bone marrow

Question 8

what happens to rbcs as they develop

Answer 8

they reduce in size and lose their nucleus

Question 9

what happens when CO2 enters rbcs

Answer 9

it is converted to carbonic acid by carbonic anhydrase present in rbcs. This acid is unstable so is quickly broken down to bicarbonate and a hydrogen ion.

Question 10

what are the two types of white blood cells and their further subsets

Answer 10

granulocytes - neutrophil, basophil, eosinophil

agranulocytes - monocytes, lymphocytes

Question 11

how is a persons blood group determined

Answer 11

by the presence (or absence) of AB antigens and the rhesus antigen