Blood, haemostasis and blood grouping

Question 1

what are the functions of blood?

Answer 1

1. Transport – blood gases e.g., Oxygen and carbon dioxide in occasion with respiration – nutrients for digestive system, hormones from endocrine cells to target tissues, heat and waste products
2. Regulation – pH via buffers – temperature vasoconstriction and vasodilation – water content of tissues due to osmotic pressure gradients due to proteins and dissolved ions
3. Protection – clotting (haemostasis) – white blood cells phagocytosis to fight disease

Question 2

state the composition of blood

Answer 2

• Blood is a connective tissue – formed in red bone marrow
• Blood plasma
• Platelets – haemostasis
• Erythrocytes – red blood cells
• Monocytes
• Neutrophils - clotting
• Lymphocytes – white blood cell – phagocytosis

Question 3

Whats the pH of blood?

Answer 3

Alkaline – 7.35 to 7.45 counting for 5L and 8% body weight

Question 4

Whats albumin?

Answer 4

In blood plasma protein – carrier protein to shuttle various molecules through circulation
Also, body water balance by creating osmotic pressure

Question 5

What are erythrocytes?

Answer 5

Red blood cells – biconcave discs
No nuclei
Containing haemoglobin – protein giving red pigment and carries oxygen (up to 4)

Question 6

What are leukocytes?

Answer 6

White blood cells
Immune response fighting pathogens
5 types grouped as to whether containing granules
1. Granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils)
2. Agranulocytes (small lymphocytes and monocytes)

Question 7

What are neutrophils?

Answer 7

phagocytise bacteria

Question 8

What are eosinophils?

Answer 8

Involved in allergies and killing parasites

Question 9

What are basophils?

Answer 9

Mast cells of connective tissue releasing histamine, heparin and more
Involved in inflammatory response

Question 10

What are small lymphocytes?

Answer 10

Forming plasma cells which produce antibodies (immune response)

Question 11

What are monocytes?

Answer 11

Phagocytises debris

Question 12

What are platelets including real name?

Answer 12

Fragments of cells in clotting response
Form platelets plug in wound stemming bleeding and sealing break
Process of haemostasis

Question 13

what are the two stages for formation of formed elements?

Answer 13

Formed elements created in red bone marrow
- Haemopoiesis – production of formed elements
- Erythropoiesis – production of eryocytes

Question 14

What is erythropoietin (EPO)?

Answer 14

• Key hormone helping regulate RBC production
• As stimulates formation of erythrocytes
• Basal level of EPO circulates in blood stream at all times
• When hypoxia detected in kidney EPO production increases stimulating red bone marrow to increase RBC production

Question 15

What is haematocrit?

Answer 15

• Percentage of RBCs in blood sample
• Average 45% lower in female

Question 16

If a patient is dehydrated what happens to their haematocrit?

Answer 16

• Increases – higher % RBC in sample
• Water content of plasma decreased

Question 17

What determines a patients blood grouping?

Answer 17

• Determined by antigens in plasma membrane (glycolipids and proteins)

Question 18

What can happen if you give the incoorect blood group during transfusion?

Answer 18

• Agglutinates created (clumps blood together)
• Blocking blood vessels
• Attacking donor RBC and rupturing and noy carrying oxygen
• ABO blood groups (A, B, AB and O)
• Ph blood group (antigen D blood group) - either Ph positive or negative on presence or absence of rhesus molecule on red blood cell
• These groupings merge e.g. A+ and AB -

Question 19

What are agglutinins?

Answer 19

• Body made antibodies depending on antigen of red blood cell (ABO group) – react against antigens not recognised
• Process called agglutination

Question 20

What are Rh antibodies?

Answer 20

• Not spontaneously formed in Rh-
• If given to Body of Rh+ they produce anti-D antibodies this takes time when transfused so not registered until subsequent encounters will be rejected

Question 21

What does the Rh factor mean in pregnancy?

Answer 21

• If motor with Rh- carries child of Rh+ then mother becomes sensitive to babies’ antigens and creates anti-D antibodies for subsequent pregnancies after first
• So treated with anti-D immunoglobulin that neutralises mothers Rh factor preventing sensitisation
• Otherwise, haemolytic disease of new born condition – mothers destroy babies red blood cells causing baby to be anaemic and hypoxic even brain damage or death if no transfusion is performed

Question 22

What’s blood typing?

Answer 22

• Serum with anti-A and anti-B agglutinins added to sample with saline
• Agglutination occurs between agglutin (antibody) and antigen a or B – blood type is found

Question 23

What is the universal donal?

Answer 23

• Type 0 are universal donors – no antigens to agglutinate

Question 24

What is the universal recipient?

Answer 24

• Type AB are universal recipients – no antibodies that agglutinate with donor antigens

Question 25

if patient is A group what antibodies do they get?

Answer 25

anti-B antibodies