Blood and Lymph Physiology Flashcards
functions of blood?
transport, hemostasis, defence from infection, homeostasis (pH and temperature)
effect of relaxation of blood vessel smooth muscle?
vasodilation, increased blood flow
effect of contraction of blood vessel smooth muscle?
vasoconstriction which decreases blood flow
what are the 2 routes of transport through capillary walls?
paracellular and transcellular
what is paracellular transport through capillary walls? what is transported this way?
molecules diffuse between endothelial cells. water and small solutes (radius < 3nm)- limited by tight junctions and gap junctions
what is transcellular transport through capillary walls? what is transported this way?
molecules actively transported through endothelial cells. transport of larger solutes
how are large solutes transported transcellularly across capillary walls?
receptor mediated endocytosis, transcytosis, transendothelial channels such as VVOs
what are VVOs?
vesicular vacuolar organelles
what are vesicular vacuolar organelles?
interconnected vesicles forming channels across the cell
what is transcytosis?
cells take up extracellular medium through caveolae mediated micropinocytosis and transfer to the opposite side of the cell
where are capillaries with fenestrated endothelium found?
in GI tract, glomerulus and endocrine glands
structure of fenestrated endothelium?
spaced cells form fenestrae (windows) connected through a porous diaphragm which acts as ‘sieve’ allowing only water and small molecules to pass
where are capillaries with discontinuous endothelium found?
in the liver
structure of discontinuous endothelium?
spaced cells with fenestrae without diaphragms and poorly organised basement membrane. high level of clathrin-mediated receptor endocytosis activity
how does water and small solutes pass in continuous non-fenestrated endothelium?
pass between the ECs
how do larger solutes pass in continuous non-fenestrated endothelium?
pass through ECs via transcytosis or transendothelial channels
why is the permeability of ECs particularly restricted in the brain?
to minimise risk of infection
what forms the blood brain barrier?
tight endothelial junctions, thick basement membrane, supporting layer of astrocytes
how do substances pass the blood brain barrier?
water, gases, lipid-soluble hormones pass by passive diffusion, selective transport of nutrients such as amino acids and glucose. antibodies too large to pass
how does the blood brain barrier prevent entry of lipophilic neurotoxins?
active transport mechanism mediated by P-glycoprotein
what is the key hallmark of inflammation?
flow of plasma and WBCs into site of injury or infection- important to protect tissue from infection- endothelial cells increase permeability to allow this
functions of RBCs?
responsible for carrying oxygen
adaptations of RBCs?
biconcave disc shape facilitates movement through capillaries, enucleated so increased capacity for Hb and ability to go through small capillaries
what species have nucleated RBCs?
fish and reptiles
how does a pulse oximeter measure blood oxygenation?
using absorption- Hb has different absorption spectra when bound with O2 versus in free form
where does erythropoiesis take place in adults?
bone marrow
where does erythropoiesis take place in the developing fetus?
liver and spleen
what happens to erythrocyte progenitor cells to become erythrocytes?
lose nucleus, ribosomes and organelles
what happens to erythrocytes at the end of their lifespan?
digested by macrophages in liver or spleen
importance of regulation of erythropoiesis?
important to adjust to environments with different O2 levels
where is erythropoietin produced?
kidney
when is erythropoietin released?
when O2 levels are low
role of erythropoietin?
stimulates erythrocyte release
negative feedback loop of erythropoietin?
release stimulated by low O2 levels, erythropoietin stimulates erythrocyte release, resulting high O2 levels suppress erythropoietin production
what regulates the erythropoietin response to hypoxia?
transcription factor Hif-a (hypoxia inducible factor)
role of Hif-a?
in normal conditions is hydroxylated leading to its degradation, in hypoxia activity of hydroxylase is reduced, Hif1-a can activate erythropoietin transcription
why is RBC elimination important?
damaged RBCs can release Hb and free iron which are then sequestered in the kidney and can cause local inflammation and damage
effect of deregulation of RBCs?
anaemia (low hematocrit), polycthemia (high hematocrit)
blood group if no antigens present?
O
what does being group O blood type mean?
both anti-B and anti-A antibodies in plasma so no antigens on RBCs
blood group if A and B antigens present?
AB
what does being in group AB blood type mean?
no antibodies in plasma for A or B so both A and B antigens present on RBCs
what does being in group A blood type mean?
anti-B antibodies in plasma so only A antigens present on RBCs
what does being in group B blood type mean?
anti-A antibodies in plasma so only B antibodies present on RBCs