Blood Plasma

Question 1

What is the difference between interstitial fluid and plasma?

Answer 1

Main difference - plasma has more protein

Plasma - 7%, 3 L
IF - 36% 15 L

• the rest is intracellular - 55% 23 L

Question 2

What category of fluid does ocular and CSF come under?

Answer 2

Transcellular - 2% of body water

Question 3

What percentage is each component of blood?

Answer 3

Plasma - 55%
Red cells - 45%
Buffy coat - 1% ( white blood cells and platelets )

• have to centrifuge, add anti coagulant

Question 4

What is Apheresis?

Answer 4

Blood collected and centrifuged for further use

Question 5

What is plasma exchange used for?

Answer 5

Treatment of multiple sclerosis and myeloma

Question 6

What is Low density lipid removal used for?

Answer 6

Treatment of Px prone to atherosclerosis

Question 7

What is red cell exchange used for?

Answer 7

Treatment of sickle cell

Question 8

What is platelet depletion used for?

Answer 8

Treatment of disorders of haemeostasis

Question 9

What is white blood cell depletion used for?

Answer 9

Treatment of leukaemia

Question 10

What is the difference between serum and plasma?

Answer 10

Serum is after letting blood clot, so clotting factors become depleted and trapping platelets within the clot

• serum can generate cleaner samplel but takes longer to generate than plasma

Question 11

What 6 roles does plasma play?

Answer 11

• Clotting
• Immune defence
• Osmotic pressure maintenance
• Metabolism
• Endocrine
• Excretion

Question 12

What are the two major plasma proteins?

Answer 12

Albumin and globulins

globulins have subtypes

Question 13

Where is serum albumin produced?

Answer 13

Liver

makes up 55% of total plasma proteins

Question 14

What are the functions of serum albumins?

Answer 14

Transport of lipids, hormones, ions,

Maintaining osmotic pressure

Question 15

How are alpha globulins named?

Answer 15

Alpha 1 globulins : alpha 1 antitrypsin ( A1AT )

Alpha 2 globulins : haptoglobin and a2-macroglobin

Question 16

What does A1AT do?

Answer 16

Made in liver

Inhibits proteases, protects tissues e.g. from neutrophil elastase which is released during inflammation

Question 17

What can defective A1AT lead to?

Answer 17

Compromise lung degradation - loss of elasticity and respiratory problems

Question 18

What does haptoglobin do?

Answer 18

Binds to Hb - becomes a complex which is removed by the spleen

Question 19

What do measuring levels of haptoglobin tell you?

Answer 19

Helpful in diagnosis of haemolytic anaemia

Question 20

What does a2-macroglobin do?

Answer 20

broad protease inhibitor - inactivate fibrinolysis

Question 21

Give examples of beta globulins?

Answer 21

C3 C4 - complement cascade proteins

Transferrin - iron transport

Question 22

Give examples of gamma globulins?

Answer 22

Immunoglobulins

C-reactive protein

• increased gamma globulins may reflect increase immune activity

Question 23

What type of ions are proteins, nucleic acids, phosphorylated proteins?

Answer 23

Anions

Question 24

Why is Ca2+ levels associated with signalling?

Answer 24

Because it is 1000x less in the cells than outside, an increase intracellular levels can signal something

Question 25

Why is magnesium found in the cell?

Answer 25

Cofactor for many enzymes

Question 26

What cell shape change occurs when ATP levels are depleted?

Answer 26

Become more spherical:

Water and sodium ions move into the cell as ATPase pump isn’t working at optimum

Question 27

What is convalescent plasma?

Answer 27

Used before vaccines,