Blood I Flashcards
What are the 3 main functions of the blood?
Transport, acid-base balance, and protection
Name 5 transport roles that the blood plays.
Nutritive, respiratory (transport of gases), excretory, hormone transport, and temperature regulation.
What is the normal pH of blood?
7.30-7.45
What are the 3 major components of the blood? State their percentages.
Plasma (55%), buffy layer (<1%, WBCs and platelets), red blood cells (45%)
What is the difference between studying blood in vivo and in vitro?
In vivo means that it’s studied in the intact individual, while in vitro means that it’s studied in a test tube or petri dish.
What proportion of the body mass does blood make up?
7%
What is the approximate quantity of blood in the standard physiological reference individual?
5 L
Having a normal blood volume is called […]
Normovolemia
Having a lower blood volume than normal is called […]
Hypovolemia
Having higher blood volume than normal is called […]
Hypervolemia
What is hematocrit?
It is the percentage of blood volume that is occupied by red blood cells.
What is the normal hematocrit value?
Around 45%
Knowing that blood has a volume of about 5 L and that normal hematocrit is 45%, what is the total blood volume occupied by red blood cells? By plasma?
2.25 L, 2.75 L
What are the 5 major components of plasma?
Water, ions, nutrients and wastes, respiratory gases, and proteins (colloids)
The plasma is […]% water
> 90
What are the major and minor ions in plasma?
Major: Na+ Cl-
Minor: K+, HCO3-, Ca++, Mg++, PO4–
What are the major nutrients found in the plasma?
Glucose, amino acids, lipids such as cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides.
Give 2 examples of wastes in the plasma.
Urea and lactic acid.
What are the major respiratory gases found in the plasma?
Oxygen, carbon dioxide
What is the major difference in composition between plasma and interstitial fluid?
Plasma contains proteins, while ISF doesn’t.
What are the main 3 proteins found in the plasma? State their concentration.
Albumins: 60%
Globulins: 35%
Fibrinogen: 5%
Name 4 ways of separating plasma proteins.
- Differential precipitation by salts
- Sedimentation in ultracentrifuge
- Electrophoretic mobility
- Immunological characteristics
What method of plasma protein separation is the most commonly used?
Electrophoretic mobility (electrophoresis)
Explain how electrophoresis works.
The proteins in plasma carry a negative charge. A drop of plasma is placed on filter paper soaked with a fluid of the same pH. A current is applied, and different proteins will migrate towards the anode at their own characteristic rate. After a while, the different proteins will form bands that can be stained and identified.
Rate of migration in electrophoresis is influenced by the […] and […] of each protein.
Number and distribution of charges
Molecular weight
Name the major specimens that can be seen in electrophoresis.
Albumin, fibrinogen, and globulins: α1, α2, β (beta), Y (gamma).
Name the order in which the major blood proteins appear after electrophoresis.
From left to right: albumin, α1 globulin, α2 globulin, β globulin, fibrinogen, Y globulin
After electrophoresis, you notice that there is no fibrinogen line visible. Why is this?
This is likely because electrophoresis was done with serum instead of plasma, and serum has fibrinogen removed because it causes clotting of the blood, making it harder to get a good result.
After electrophoresis, you notice that the albumin peak is shorter than normal. What does this indicate? Explain why.
This indicates renal disease. This is because renal disease often increases the permeability of the kidney, allowing albumin, which is the smallest protein, to leave into the urine.
After electrophoresis, you notice that the Y globulin peak is higher than normal. What does this indicate? Explain why.
This indicates that the person has a bacterial infection, as the antibodies produced in response are part of the gamma globulin fraction.
Where are plasma proteins produced?
Fibrinogen, albumin, β globulin, α1 globulin and α2 globulin are produced in the liver. Y globulin is produced in lymphoid tissue because it includes antibodies.
A diseased liver will resulted in […] production of plasma proteins.
Decreased (except for Y globulin)
Describe the shape of the three major plasma proteins.
Albumin: oval-shaped
Fibrinogen: uniform, long fibers
Globulin: heterogeneous
State the molecular weight of the three major plasma proteins.
Albumin: 69
Fibrinogen: 350
Globulin: 90-800
State the concentration with respect to the total % of colloids of the three major plasma proteins.
Albumin: 4 g/%
Fibrinogen: 0.3g/%
Globulin: 2.7 g/%
What is the collective concentration of the three major plasma proteins?
7 g/%
What is the major role of plasma proteins?
They determine the distribution of fluid between the plasma and the interstitial fluid by controlling transcapillary dynamics.
Explain how plasma proteins determine the distribution of fluid between the plasma and the interstitial fluid
Because plasma proteins are non-diffusible, they exert an osmotic pressure that allow for the movement of fluid between the plasma and the ISF, which are otherwise identical in composition.
The osmotic effect exerted by plasma proteins is called […]
Colloidal osmotic (oncotic) pressure (COP)
The COP of plasma proteins is equal to […]
25 mm Hg
If the COP increases, water will flow from the […] to the […]
ISF into the plasma
