blood structure

Question 1

what are the most common systems used to identify blood group based on the antigens on red blood cell surface ?

Answer 1

ABO

Rhesus

Question 2

which blood group is universal donor ?

Answer 2

. blood type O is universal donor
. this is because they have neither A or B antigen which means they have both a and b antibodies
. This means any blood type in the ABO system can receive blood from blood O individuals, but they can only receive from O.

Question 3

which blood group is universal recipient ?

Answer 3

. blood type AB is a universal recipient
. this is because they have both A and B antigen on their red blood cells which means they have no antibodies against A or B antigen
. they can receive blood from any blood type

Question 4

why would the blood of a person with group A clot if they received a transfusion of group B blood ?

Answer 4

. a person with blood group A have A antigen and b antibody , while a person with blood group B have B antigen and a antibody
. B antigens in the donor blood will react with b antibodies in the recipient blood causing them to reject the blood and cause blood clotting.

Question 5

What is the origin of the name of this blood grouping?

Answer 5

Firstly described in rhesus monkeys- found a similar antigen in their red blood cells

Question 6

What are the other rhesus antigens (not tested for here), and which would make you Rh+ and why?

Answer 6

. relies on the presence of 6 antigens C , D, E , c ,d ,e
. C, D, E – they make me Rh+ due to the protein C, D and E being found on the surface of your red blood cells. Also they cause immune reactions.
. c, d, e - they make me Rh-

Question 7

What proportion of the population is Rh+?

Answer 7

85% most people are Rh+

Question 8

Why can you normally ‘get away with’ being given the wrong rhesus group once?

Answer 8

the body does not usually contain antibodies to these antigens and they take several months to form, so can get away with being given wrong Rh once (after antibodies are present)

Question 9

What is the most abundant cell type you see when looking at human blood under microscope ?

Answer 9

Erythrocytes - red blood cell

Question 10

what is the of diameter erythrocytes ?

Answer 10

7. 5-8.5 um

2. 0 um thickness

Question 11

Describe erythrocytes shape and outline what the advantage of this is ?

Answer 11

. they are anucleate biconcave disc that can change shape to squeeze through capillaries .
. big surface area for small volume which is important for exchange of substance
. This biconcavity increases the surface area to allow efficient diffusion of gases.
.Red blood cells do not have a nucleus and are absent of most organelles, leaving space for large amounts of hemoglobin (Hb).

Question 12

Can you see any other cell types in human blood ?

Answer 12

· You can also see the nuclei of WBCs-appears as blue dots under microscope.
. granulocytes ( lobed nuclei granular cytoplasm )
e.g. neutrophils , eosinophils , basophils
. agranulocytes
. no granules regular nuclei
. lymphatic system involved in development
e.g. lymphocyte and monocytes

Question 13

describe the structure and function of neutrophils ?

Answer 13

• contains granules (granulocyte)
• 10 - 15 um diameter
• nucleus composed of 2-5 -sausage - shaped lobes
• 60-70% of all leukocytes (most common WBC)
• powerful phagocyte

Question 14

what is the structure and function of basophil?

Answer 14

• 10-15 um diameter
• nucleus often S-shaped
• cytoplasm contains large granules which contain histamine , heparin , serotonin- important in inflammatory response and allergic reactions-
• 0.5-2% of all leukocytes
• may form mast cells- which are cells you find in c.t with big granules of histamine and heparin
• weak phagocytes
• important in inflammatory response and allergic reactions

Question 15

describe structure and function of eosinophils ?

Answer 15

• 9 um diameter
• bilobed nucleus
• granulocytes
• they have role in blood clotting and detoxifying foreign proteins and phagocytosis of antibodies

Question 16

Describe the structure of monocytes?

Answer 16

• agranular
• they mature into large macrophages (80 um) only within the extravascular tissue
• they form what is sometimes referred to as the tissue macrophage system
• they need to leave the vascular system and stay in body c.t to mature into strong macrophages
• more powerful than neutrophils.

Question 17

what are the two types of lymphocytes ?

Answer 17

T- lymphocytes - mature in thymus

B- lymphocytes - mature in bone marrow

Question 18

what is the function of T-lymphocytes ?

Answer 18

T-lymphocytes mediate cellular immunity in which the whole cell attacks the invader

Question 19

what is the function of B-lymphocytes ?

Answer 19

B-lymphocytes mediate humoral immunity via producing plasma cells which produce antibodies
that neutralise invading organisms by binding to antigens and cover toxic area

Question 20

describe red blood cells of mammals such as rabbits and rats ?

Answer 20

. Rats erythrocytes have biconcave discs which means larger SA to volume so more exchange of nutrients
. human and rabbit ( small red blood cell ) would also be similar as they are mammals.
. mammals have no nucleus , which means cells use less energy and cells becomes smaller and takes up less volume which means more red blood cells can be produced in the blood , as there is more space in blood therefore more oxygen availability

Question 21

describe red blood cells of non-mammals such as fish frogs and birds ?

Answer 21

However, with frog, bird or fish blood the RBCs were larger (~double size), they also had a nucleus.
. Fish RBCs contain a nucleus, so they can synthesise proteins, as these proteins are involved in immune response.
. This also means bird, fish and amphibians are less evolved as their erythrocytes are involved in immunological functioning, where they can secrete substances to combat infection and pathogens.
. In a frog, the nucleus of a WBCs is similar size to that of RBC, however, it can expand in size, so it can carry more Hb.

Question 22

What is the diameter of the various arteries you see?

Answer 22

10mm

Question 23

What makes up the tunica interna?

Answer 23

. inner layer of blood vessel

. consists of an inner surface of smooth endothelium covered by a surface of elastic tissues.

Question 24

What separates the tunica interna from the tunica media?

Answer 24

Internal elastic lamina

Question 25

What is the major component of the tunica media and what is its function?

Answer 25

smooth muscle
-To make blood vessels wide and narrow- to regulate B.P
- Close blood vessel down, if you are cut/injured
-Re-direct blood
But NOT to squeeze the blood along

Question 26

How is the tunica media of most arteries innervated?

Answer 26

Sympathetic branch of the (ANS )Nervous system – which innervates smooth muscle of most arteries- nerve supply to the artery

Question 27

Describe the composition of the arterial adventia ?

Answer 27

• Several layers of longitudinal, collagenous connective tissue- tough outer protective coat

Question 28

What is the vasa vasorum?

Answer 28

network of small blood vessels that supply the walls of large blood vessels, such as elastic arteries (e.g., the aorta) and large veins (e.g., the venae cavae).

Question 29

What is agglutions?

Answer 29

antigens on surface of red blood cells which determine your blood type.