Blood - molecules Flashcards
State 3 functions of blood
Transport: oxygen, carbon dioxide, digestion products, metabolites, hormones, plasma proteins
Haemostasis: maintenance of blood volume
Immune defence: innate and acquired immunity
How is composition of blood related to its function?
Plasma: fluid component of the blood, contains dissolved metabolites, proteins, hormones
RBCs transport oxygen and carbon dioxide bound to haemoglobin
Platelets responsd to vascular damage by forming clots to prevent blood loss
WBCs immunological defence
Normal Hb values in men and women
Men: 15g/dL
Women: 12g/dL
Normal cell count
RBCs: 5 x 10^6 cells/ul
Platelets: 250-300 x 10^9cells/ul
WBC: 6-10 000 cells/ul
Define hematocrit
Red cell fraction formed when blood is separated by centrifugation.
Describe the process of Haematopoiesis
In adults cellular components of blood is formed in bone marrow.
Multipotent Haematopoietic stem cell differentiates into myeloid stem cells which give rise to majority of the cells in the blood and lymphoid stem cells which differentiate into T-cells and b-cells
How is the structure of bone marrow related to its function?
Bone marrow composed of:
BM stromal cells
Endothelial cells:provide blood supply
Adipocytes: provide energy for haematopoiesis
Osteocytes: turnover of bone matrix
Haematopoietic islands: site of blood cell production
Describe how oxygen is transported by red blood cells
Oxygen transported around the blood bound to haemoglobin in RBCs.
Hb is a heterotetramer, each heme group binds one O2 molecule. At high partial pressures of oxygen (lung) Hb becomes saturated with oxygen.The binding of one molecule causes a change in the structure of the porphyryn ring and changes the protein conformation from tense to relaxed, exposing the oxygen binding sites on adjacent chains. Therefore binding of one oxygen molecule enhances binding of other oxygen molecules.
OxyHb is then transported from the lungs to the respiring tissue where a high pH and presence of CO2 lower its affinity for oxygen, converting it from the R to the T state which promotes oxygen release.
Describe the regulation of erythropoieses
.Synthesis of erythropoietin is stimulated by anaemia and hypoxia.
This acts in combination with other haematopoeitic growth factors to stimulate erythropoiesis.
EPO binds to the EPO receptor (Jak-stat) which activates gene transcription.
What is the role of EPO?
Growth factor that stimulates erythropoieses
Prevents apoptosis of rbcs
What are the causes of anaemia
Chronic blood loss Acute blood loss Dietary deficiency (lack of iron, lack of folate) Thalassemias Destruction of RBCs (haemolytic disease) Low RBC production (aplastic) Chronic disease Failure to produce RBCs due to a lack of EPO e.g. kidney failure
Signs and symptoms of anaemia
Pallor Tiredness Fainting Light- headedness Dyspnoea
Definition of anaemia
Hb lower than 12g/100ml or hematocrit of less that 37%
Chronic anaemia is where hematocrit is below 30%
Acute anaemia there is overall drop in blood volume
State the 3 types of anaemia
Normocytic, normochromic - caused by acute blood loss, anaemia of chronic disease, destruction of rbcs e.g. Sickle cell
Microcytic hypochromic - iron deficiency, thalassemia
Macrocytic normochromic - vitB12, folate deficiency (increased reticulocyte count)
Compensatory mechanisms for anaemia
Decrease affinity of Hb for oxygen by stimulating production of 2,3BPG
Redistribute blood flow, less to kidney and skin, increase in plasma volume
Increase cardiac output (tachycardia)
Premature release of reticulocytes into blood to boost cell numbers