Blood & Immunity Flashcards
What type of tissue is blood and why?
Blood is connective tissue as it links organs together.
What two distinct elements is blood made of?
Plasma - Liquid portion consisting of water, dissolved gasses, proteins, sugars, vitamins, minerals, hormones, and waste products.
Cellular Comp - made up of red, and white blood cells as well as Platelets
What is plasma mainly comprised of?
Mainly water w/ dissolved materials
How much blood is composed of plasma?
Approx 55%
What are the three proteins in plasma and what are their purpose?
- Albumins - for osmatic pressure
- Globulins - to produce antibodies
- Fibrinogen - Used for clotting
What is a second name for red blood cells?
Erythrocytes
What percentage of blood is comprised of RBCs?
44%
What is the main function of a red blood cell?
To transport oxygen
What special adaptations allow red blood cells to hold oxygen so well?
The red blood cell does not have a nucleus and is filled with hemoglobin.
In what conditions must be present for RBCs to be produced?
Low levels of oxygen
What is polycythemia
Higher than normal numbers of red blood cells
What is the average life span of a red blood cell?
approx 120 days
Where are red blood cells produced?
Bone marrow
What breaks RBCs down?
Liver and spleen
What is anemia?
Having too few RBCs or lacking hemoglobin
What is the result of developing anemia?
Oxygen deficiency
What are the common symptoms of anemia?
Fatigue and pale skin
What causes anemia to develop
Lack of iron in the diet
Why is iron important?
Iron contributes in the creation of hemoglobin
What is sickle cell amenia?
A genetic disorder causing misshapen reb blood cells. This means RBCs cant function properly increasing risk for blood clots, heart attacks, and stroke
What is a secondary name for a white blood cell?
Leukocytes
What is the ratio of RBCs to white blood cells?
700:1
What are white blood cells responsible for?
Immune response
What are granulocytes?
Cells with granules, and lobed nuclei, are phagocytic and produce and mature in bone marrow
What are agranulocytes?
Cells w/o granules that vary in function. Produced in bone marrow and modified in lymph nodes.
What are monocytes
They are phagocytes
What are b cells?
Mature in bone marrow
What are T cells?
Mature in thymes gland near the heart
What are platelets and how are they formed?
Fragments of cells. They are formed when larger cells in bone marrow break apart
What is different about platelets?
No nucleus and they break down easy
What are platelets’ key roles in blood?
Clotting - prevents blood loss
What are the four steps of blood clotting?
- When platelts touch a rough surface they release a chemical that reacts with plasma to form thromboplastin.
- Thromboplastin catalyzes conversion of prothrombin to thrombin
- Thrombin catalyzes the conversion of fibringogen to to fibrin, which is an insoluble material that forms a mesh around the effected area.
- RBC’s are trapped forming a clot.