Blood Typing Flashcards
What is plasma, and what are formed elements?
Plasma - fluid content of blood - H2O, proteins, ions
formed elements: platelets, WBC, erythrocytes
What is the difference between serum and plasma?
serum - plasma minus clotting factors
- albumin, globulin, regulatory proteins
Plasma - serum PLUS clotting factors
What is albumin?
most abundant protein in blood
- made in liver
- regulates plasma osmotic pressure: regulates where water is found in vessels and tissue fluid
- helps transport steroids and bilirubin (lipids)
What are globulins?
some types made by liver
- transports metal ions, lipid, fat soluble vitamins
others made by plasma cells during immune response - antibodies
transferrin
What are the clotting proteins and where are they made?
made in the liver
fibrinogen, prothrombin
- activated by Ca in the blood
- liver damage greatly affects clotting ability
- chelators bind to Ca and prevent binding to clotting proteins - prevent coagulation
What happens when the body needs more oxygen?
kidneys release erythropoietin to increase RBC production
- binds to receptor on the RBC progenitor cell (proerythroblast)
What is erythropoiesis? Describe the steps
RBC development from the hemocytoblast
chromatin becomes uncoiled, DNA separate to allowed transcription for hemoglobin
as hemoglobin builds up, nucleus is condensed
nucleus extruded from the cell prior to leaving the bone marrow
reticulocyte - last stage prior to becoming full erythrocyte
- contains strands of Ribosomal ER: typically not found in whole blood unless body is stressed to make more RBC
What is a reticulocyte?
immature erythrocyte
can be found in circulating blood - eventually mature to erythrocytes within 1-2 days
- contains clumps of ribosomes and mitochondrial material
Describe the life cycle of RBCs. How long do they live, and where do they go when they die?
RBC’s cannot reproduce - no nucleus
membrane becomes more stiff/fragile as they age
macrophages in the liver capture old RBC’s - breakdown with protease and recycle:
- AA’s for hemoglobin
- Fe and pigment excreted via bile to intestines
Where does RBC production occur in the fetus and postnatally?
fetus - liver, spleen and bone marrow of flat/long bones
post natal - ENDS of long bone (epiphyses)
- also in flat bones - sternum
What is hemoglobin structure like?
2 alpha and 2 beta complexes
Fe ion formed the porforin ring - each Fe binds O2
How is hemoglobin tested?
tested by light spectrometry or piece of paper
- deeper red = more hemoglobin
men typically have more hemoglobin
What is hematocrit? What affects it?
hematocrit: % of blood that is formed elements
men have more T, higher density of skeletal muscle, higher requirement for O2 - higher hematocrit %
affected by hydration
What is erythrocyte sedimentation rate?
determined by interactions btw factors that promote (fibrinogen) and resist (- charge of RBC repel each other) sedimentation
normal RBC settle slowly and do not form rouleaux/aggregate
- rouleaux - stacks of RBC that become heavier and sediment faster
- plasma proteins like fibrinogen adhere to RBS and promote rouleaux formation
- increased rouleaux = high ESR
What are some conditions with high ESR?
anemia, cancer, kidney disease, thyroid disease, lupus, RA, infections