Blood Components, Functions & Types Flashcards

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1
Q

What does mainly blood consist of?

A
  • Plasma (55%)
  • Red blood cells (RBC)
  • White blood cells (WBC)
  • Platelets
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2
Q

What is another name for red blood cells?

A

Erythrocytes

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3
Q

What are red blood cells? What are their the purpose?

A

RBCs are blood cells that are formed bone marrow and have no nucleus. They carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body through the use of hemoglobin

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4
Q

What is hemoglobin?

A

It is an iron-containing protein found inside RBCs that allows large amounts of oxygen to bind to it (and some CO2)

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5
Q

What determines the production of red blood cells?

A

The amount of oxygen available

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6
Q

What does an individual’s oxygen-carrying capacity depend on?

A

The number of red blood cells (RBC) and amount of hemoglobin

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7
Q

What is the role of the spleen?

A

Filters blood and destroys worn out RBC, and stores about 150mL of RBC for emergent situations

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8
Q

What is the lifespan of an RBC?

A

100 - 120 days

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9
Q

What is another name for white blood cells?

A

Leukocytes

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10
Q

What are white blood cells? What are their the purpose?

A

White blood cells originate from the bone marrow and thymus gland, and are part of the body’s immune system. They help the body fight infection and other diseases.

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11
Q

What are the three main types of WBCs?

A
  1. Granulocytes
  2. Monocytes
  3. Lymphocytes
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12
Q

What are granulocytes? What is their role?

A

A type of white blood cell that has small granules that contain proteins: neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils. Granulocytes stay in the bloodstream and help the body fight bacterial infections by engulfing and destroying bacteria and foreign bodies

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13
Q

What are monocytes? What is their role?

A

These are blood cells that can exit the bloodstream and become specialized macrophages. They engulf and destroy bacteria and foreign bodies

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14
Q

What are platelets? What is their role?

A

Fragments of cells that form when cells and bone marrow break apart. They play a key role in blood clotting.

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15
Q

What are the steps of blood clotting?

A
  1. Injury exposes collagen fibers to blood stream, which attracts platelets like magnets
  2. When platelets arrive at rough surface, they rupture and release a protein, thromboplastin
    3.Thromboplastin combines with calcium ions and activates a protein prothrombin (made by liver)
  3. Prothrombin ——-> thrombin enzyme
  4. Thrombin + fibrinogen = fibrin
  5. Fibrin forms a mesh of fibres, closing the wound and creating a clot
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16
Q

How does blood transport nutrients, gasses, and other materials like waste?

A

Digestion - capillaries in the wall of the small intestinal absorb nutrients

Respiration - capillary beds in lungs allow for gas (and other chemical) exchange

Urinary - Metabolic wastes, mineral ions, and other waste products are carried by blood to kidneys for excretion

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17
Q

What is vasodilation and what does it cause?

A

When the nervous system signals blood vessels to dilate, causing increased blood flow and heat loss (ex. your face turns red during exercise)

18
Q

What is vasoconstriction and what does it cause?

A

Constriction of the vessels near the skin which decreases blood flow and heat loss (e.g. looking pale when sick/ scared)

19
Q

How does blood regulate homeostasis?

A

Through heat gradients formed by a difference in temp between the blood coming to the skin and the skin itself. Regulated by blood pressure and metabolic activity.

20
Q

What occurs when the body is too cold?

A

Vasoconstriction occurs:
- Hypothalamus signals blood vessels through nerves
- Blood vessels constrict and the body stops sweating
- Blood temperature increases

21
Q

What occurs when the body is too hot?

A

Vasodilation occurs:
- Hypothalamus signals blood vessels through nerves
- Blood vessels dilate and the body begins to sweat
- Blood temperature decreases

22
Q

What are capillary beds? What do they do?

A

A vast network of capillaries that exchange nutrients, waste, and gas, throughout the body

23
Q

How do capillaries exchange substances?

A

By diffusing the substances through the capillary walls via interstitial fluid, when there is slow blood flow

24
Q

What is interstitial fluid?

A

The fluid surrounding cells and capillaries; any material exchanged between capillaries and cells must pass through this

25
Q

What is anemia?

A

It is a blood disorder caused by a lack of RBCs/hemoglobin

26
Q

What is hemophilia?

A

It is a genetic blood disorder that causes insufficient blood clotting proteins (platelets)

27
Q

What is leukaemia?

A

The cancer of white blood cells

28
Q

How does high altitude affect blood?

A

Due to the thinner air and the lower partial-pressure of oxygen, an individual’s RBC and hemoglobin count would increase, allowing for more oxygen saturation

29
Q

What are antigens?

A

They are specific proteins, embedded in the membrane of RBCs. Antigens are inherited and determine a person’s blood type

30
Q

What are antibodies?

A

Specific proteins that are found in plasma and bind to specific antigens

31
Q

What are naturally occuring antibodies?

A

Antibodies that form without an individual being exposed to that particular antigen

32
Q

What are the four different blood types?

A
  • Type A
  • Type B
  • Type AB
  • Type O
33
Q

Which antigens and antibodies does type A blood have?

A

Antigens: A
Antibodies: B

34
Q

Which antigens and antibodies does type B blood have?

A

Antigens: B
Antibodies: A

35
Q

Which antigens and antibodies does type AB blood have?

A

Antigens: A & B
Antibodies: None

36
Q

Which antigens and antibodies does type O blood have?

A

Antigens: None
Antibodies: A & B

37
Q

Which blood type is the universal recipient?

A

Type AB (because of the lack of antibodies)

38
Q

Which blood type is the universal donor?

A

Type O (because of the lack of antigens)

39
Q

When does agglutination occur? What happens?

A

When an antigen comes into contact with plasma that has the matching antibody (ex. A & A), the RBCs will clump together. It can cause blood clots and major organ damage

40
Q

What is the Rhesus (Rh) factor?

A

Rh factor is an inherited protein found on the surface of red blood cells.

Antigen present —> Rh positive (Rh+)

Antigen NOT present —> Rh negative (Rh-)

41
Q

Which Rh factor can donate to which?

A

Rh- can donate blood to both Rh+ and Rh-

Rh+ can only donate to Rh+