Blood Composition

Question 1

Where are plasma proteins made?

Answer 1

In the liver.

Question 2

Plasma proteins make the osmotic pressure of blood higher than that of interstitial fluid (IF). What effect does this have on water?

Answer 2

It pulls water from interstitial fluid into capillaries and helps maintain blood volume.

Question 3

What are the functions of fibrinogen?

Answer 3

Clotting and forms fibrin.

Question 4

What are the functions of globulins?

Answer 4

Clotting factors, enzymes, antibodies and carriers.

Question 5

What is the functions of albumins?

Answer 5

Transport.

Question 6

Describe the features of red blood cells (erythrocytes).

Answer 6

Biconcave, no nucleus, no mitochondria and they are made in the bone marrow.

Question 7

Describe the features of white blood cells (leukocytes).

Answer 7

They contain a nucleus and most are produced in the bone marrow.

Question 8

Where are the cell fragments of platelets derived from?

Answer 8

Megakaryocytes.

Question 9

What are the two colony-stimulating factors?

Answer 9

White blood cell production and treatment of neutropenia (decrease in neutrophil count).

Question 10

What is the function of thrombopoietin?

Answer 10

Platelet production.

Question 11

What is the function of erythropoietin?

Answer 11

Red cell production.

Question 12

Where is erythropoietin synthesised?

Answer 12

In the liver or kidney in response to low oxygen (hypoxia).

Question 13

What treatment is erythropoietin used in?

Answer 13

Anaemia - e.g. renal failure, cancer, AIDS, infections and bone marrow transplant.

Question 14

What are the two functions of blood?

Answer 14

Transport of materials and defence against disease.

Question 15

Is solubility of oxygen low or high?

Answer 15

Low.

Question 16

Does solubility increase or decrease with increasing temperature.

Answer 16

Decreases.

Question 17

Vertebrates and many invertebrates evolved respiratory pigments to oxygen carrying capacity of blood. True or false?

Answer 17

True.

Question 18

How many alpha and beta chains does haemoglobin contain?

Answer 18

Two alpha and two beta chains.

Question 19

Each alpha and beta chain in haemoglobin contains what kind of group?

Answer 19

Heme group.

Question 20

Sickle cell anaemia is a genetic defect in which glutamine is replaced by what and where?

Answer 20

Valine at position six in the 146 amino acid beta-chain of haemoglobin.

Question 21

In sickle cell anaemia, what happens to haemoglobin when it gives up its oxygen?

Answer 21

It crystallises.

Question 22

In sickle cell anaemia, what happens to the shape of red blood cells?

Answer 22

It changes into a sickle shape, like a crescent moon.

Question 23

Sickle-shaped cells block small blood vessels. What does this cause?

Answer 23

Causes tissue damage and pain from hypoxia.

Question 24

How many oxygens does haemoglobin bind with?

Answer 24

Four.

Question 25

What does the binding of haemoglobin and oxygen form?

Answer 25

Oxyhaemoglobin (HbO8).

Question 26

Does fetal haemoglobin have a lower or higher affinity for oxygen than adult haemoglobin? Why?

Answer 26

Higher because it is then able to obtain oxygen from the mothers haemoglobin in the placenta.

Question 27

How does a high altitude affect an organisms oxygen dissociation curve?

Answer 27

Their oxygen dissociation curve move to the left.

Question 28

Does myoglobin have a higher or a lower affinity for oxygen than haemoglobin?

Answer 28

Higher.

Question 29

What is the purpose of myoglobin?

Answer 29

It acts as an oxygen store in muscles for use during periods of strenuous exertion. It only releases oxygen when the oxygen tension is very low.

Question 30

Does haemoglobin have a higher affinity for carbon monoxide or oxygen?

Answer 30

Carbon monoxide.

Question 31

Is carbon monoxide released at normal atmospheric oxygen tensions?

Answer 31

No.

Question 32

What death can carboxyhaemoglobin lead to?

Answer 32

Death from asphyxia.

Question 33

What are the three methods of transporting carbon dioxide from respiring tissues back to the lungs and their percentages?

Answer 33

1. In aqueous solution in blood plasma (7%). 2. In combination with haemoglobin (23%). 3. In the form of hydrogen carbonate (70%).

Question 34

Is carbon dioxide or oxygen more soluble in water?

Answer 34

Carbon dioxide.

Question 35

If blood isn't compatible during a blood transfusion, what occurs?

Answer 35

Agglutination of the donor blood, blockages of blood vessels and cell membranes burst and release haemoglobin into plasma causing illnesses such as fever or even death.

Question 36

Do rhesus-positive individuals have Rh-antibodies in their blood?

Answer 36

No.

Question 37

What is the only way a rhesus-negative individual can have Rh-antibodies?

Answer 37

If they have been exposed to rhesus-positive blood.

Question 38

What problem can arise during pregnancy of a rhesus negative Mother?

Answer 38

If the first baby is Rh+, the blood might mix at birth, causing the Mother to develop antibodies. Therefore, the second Rh+ baby would be attacked by the Mother's antibodies and cause haemolytic disease of the newborn.

Question 39

What effect does carbon dioxide have on haemoglobin?

Answer 39

It lowers the pH of the blood so more readily releases oxygen.