Blood and Blood Cells

Question 1

Major cellular and soluble components of blood

Answer 1

Erythrocytes
Leukocytes
Platelets
Plasma

Question 2

Function of erythrocytes

Answer 2

Transport oxygen via haemoglobin

Question 3

Function of leukocytes

Answer 3

White blood cells that illicit an immune response to foreign material

Question 4

Function of platelets

Answer 4

Enucleated cells required for clotting process

Question 5

Function of plasma

Answer 5

Serum containing dissolved hormones, dissolved substances

Question 6

Function of blood

Answer 6

Connective tissue
Haemostasis
Maintain homeostasis
Support of genitalia
Heat distribution
Immune response
Transportation

Question 7

Structure of haemoglobin

Answer 7

Globular 4 subunit protein, each with a prosthetic haem group

Question 8

Role of haemoglobin

Answer 8

Bind oxygen, becomes easier to bind oxygen as more oxygen molecules bind. CO 200x higher affinity than O2.

Question 9

Haemoglobin concentration normal ranges

Answer 9

Men 13.5-16.5

Women 11.5-14.5

Question 10

Red cell count normal values

Answer 10

Men 5.4x10^12/L

Women 4.8x^12L

Question 11

Haematocrit normal ranges

Answer 11

Men 0.40-0.54

Women 0.35-0.47

Question 12

MCV mean cell volume normal range

Answer 12

82-99fl

Question 13

MCH mean cell haemoglobin normal range

Answer 13

27-33pm

Question 14

MCHC mean cell haemoglobin concentration normal range

Answer 14

32-34g/dl

Question 15

Definition of Anaemia

Answer 15

Low blood haemoglobin concentration

Question 16

What are the 3 main types of anaemia?

Answer 16

Microcytic
Normocytic
Macrocytic

Question 17

What is microcytic anaemia and what are it’s causes

Answer 17

Small mean cell volume (microcytic), failure to synthesise haemoglobin caused by iron deficiency from sustained slow blood loss, e.g. menstruation, GIT lesions, cancer, and parasitic infections

Question 18

What is normocytic anaemia and what are is causes

Answer 18

Normal mean cell volume (normocytic), RBC production is normal but has sustained acute blood loss, injury/stabbing etc

Question 19

What is microcytic anaemia and what are its causes

Answer 19

Large mean cell volume (macrocytic), DNA synthesis and cell division fail during erythropoiesis, reduced division of progenitor cells so fewer but larger RBCs. Caused by folic acid/vit B12 deficiency during pregnancy, autoimmune disease, pernicious anaemia (destruction of Vit B12 uptake in gut) and vegetarians and vegans (lack of dietary vit B12)