Blood and The Immune System Flashcards
55% of blood is fluid called..
Plasma
Contains 90% water, Proteins, Glucose, Vitamins, Minerals, and Dissolved gases.
Plasma
45% of blood is composed of blood cells which are..
Red Blood cells (RBC), White Blood cells (WBC), and Platelets (Platelets)
What are Erythrocytes?
Red Blood Cells
- Biconcave discs
- No Nucleus
- Produced in bone marrow
- live about 120 days
- 5 million are produced every minute
Red Blood Cells
Why are Red Blood cells biconcave?
- To optimise the flow properties of the blood in the large vessels.
- Increases surface area to volume ratio for gas diffusion.
Why do Red Blood cells lack a Nucleus?
- Allows room for cells to carry hemoglobin (the protein that is responsible for delivery of oxygen to the tissues).
- Deficiency in RBC or Hemoglobin (leads to decreased oxygen delivery to tissues) due to Hemorrhage, and Iron deficiency.
- Person experiences low energy levels
Anemia
- Hereditary (genetics) blood disorder caused by an abnormality in the hemoglobin molecule which leads to the RBC having an abnormal, rigid, sickle-like shape.
- Associated with severe infections, attacks of severe pain, stroke, and an increased risk of death.
Sickle Cell Anemia
What are Leukocytes?
White Blood cells
- Part of the Immune Response
- Contains a Nucleus
- Much Larger than RBC
- The number of these cells double when your body is fighting an infection
White Blood cells
- Cancer of bone marrow (where WBCs are produced).
- Abnormal increase in production of immature WBCs
- Weakens the immune system
- Prevents blood from clotting normally, leading to frequent nosebleeds and bruising.
Leukemia
Cell eating
Phagocytosis
- No Nucleus
- Important role in blood clotting
Platelets
After injured blood vessels release chemicals that attract platelets, platelets rupture and release substances that combine with other blood components to produce an enzyme called..
Thromboplastin
With the help of Calcium ions, thromboplastin (enzyme) reacts with prothrombin (secreted by the liver), producing..
Thrombin
Thrombin reacts with fibrinogen (a protein found in plasma) to produce..
Fibrin (Mesh)
What is Fibrin?
A spiderman-web-net-mesh thing that prevents blood cells from escaping and forming a clot.
A hereditary (genetic) disease that results from insufficient clotting proteins in the blood.
~increases the risk of bleeding to death upon injury.
Hemophilia
When blood clot dislodges it can travel through the body to lodge in a vital organ, this is called..
Embolus
What are the functions of blood?
- Transports (nutrients, wastes, and hormones)
- Homeostatic Regulation (temperature)
What are the two types of Homeostatic Regulation?
Vasodilation and Vasoconstriction