Body Systems: Circulatory/Immune Systems (Blood And The Immune System)

Question 1

55% of blood is fluid called plasma which contains:

Answer 1

-90% water.
-Proteins.
-Glucose.
-Vitamins.
-Minerals.
-Dissolved gasses.
-Waste products of cellular metabolism.

Question 2

45% of blood is composed of blood cells:

Answer 2

-Red blood cells.
-White blood cells.
-Platelets.

Question 3

Plasma:

Answer 3

-Fluid portion of the blood.
-90-92% water.
-Plasma proteins (~7%).
-Albumin -helps transport fatty substances.
-Electrolytes/glucose.
-Vitamins/minerals.
-Dissolved gasses.
-Plays a role in the transport of carbon dioxide.
-Serum = Plasma minus clot Proteins.

Question 4

Red blood cells (Erythrocytes):

Answer 4

-RBC are biconcave discs approximately 7um in diameter.
-No nucleus -allows room for cells to carry hemoglobin.
-Produced in bone marrow.
-RBC live about 120 days.
-About 5 million RBC are produced every minute.

Question 5

Anemia:

Answer 5

-Anemia: deficiency in RBC or hemoglobin leads to decreased oxygen delivery to tissues.
-Characterized by low energy levels.
-Due to:
•Hemorrhage (bleeding).
•Iron deficiency.

Question 6

Sickle cell anemia:

Answer 6

-Hereditary blood disorder, characterized by an abnormality in the hemoglobin molecule in red blood cells.
-This leads to the cells assuming an abnormal, rigid, sickle-like shape.
-Associated with a number of chronic health problems, such as severe infections, attacks of severe pain, and stroke, and there is an increased risk of death.

Question 7

White blood cells (Leukocytes):

Answer 7

-part of the immune system.
-Contains a nucleus.
-Much larger than RBC.
-The number of WBC double when your body is fighting an infection.

Question 8

Leukemia:

Answer 8

-Cancer of bone marrow (where WBC’s are produced).
-Abnormal increase in production of immature WBC’s.
-Weakens the immune system.
-Prevents blood from clotting normally, leading to frequent nosebleeds and bruising.

Question 9

Types of white blood cells:

Answer 9

1. Granulocytes: found in circulating blood, engulf and destroy foreign bodies.
   •Neutrophils eat and kill bacteria; Role in inflammation.
   •Basophils secrete anti-clotting factors-histamine.
   •Eosinophils kill parasites; role in allergies.
2. Monocytes: found in circulating blood, engulf and destroy foreign bodies.
   •Macrophages phagocytose microbes, role in inflammation, show antigens to T-cells.
3. Lymphocytes: produce antibodies that incapacitate pathogens.

Question 10

Phagocytosis:

Answer 10

Cell eating.

Question 11

Platelets (thrombosis):

Answer 11

-No nucleus.
-Important role in blood clotting.
-When a blood vessel is damaged, the cells of the vessel wall release a substance that makes them sticky, and platelets begin to stick to the injured site.
-As platelets build up, they form a plug to stop the bleeding.

Question 12

Blood clotting:

Answer 12

1. Injured blood vessel releases chemicals that attract platelets.
2. Platelets rupture and release substances that combine with other blood components to produce an enzyme called thromboplastin.
3. With the help of calcium ions, thromboplastin reacts with prothrombin (a protein secreted by the liver), producing thrombin.
4. Thrombin reacts with fibrinogen (a protein found within the plasma) to produce fibrin.
5. Fibrin strands act as a sort of mesh, preventing blood cells from escaping and forming a clot.

Question 13

Hemophilia:

Answer 13

-Hereditary disease in that results from insufficient clotting proteins in the blood.
-Increases the risk of bleeding to death upon injury.
-More common in men.

Question 14

Embolus:

Answer 14

-When a blood clot dislodges it can travel through the body to lodge in a vital organ = embolus.
-Three main types:
1. Cerebral embolism.
2. Coronary embolism.
3. Pulmonary embolism.

Question 15

Function of the blood:

Answer 15

-Transport (nutrients, wastes, hormones).
-Homeostatic regulation (temperature).

Question 16

Homeostatic regulation:

Answer 16

-Vasodilation:
•Blood vessels expand and move towards the skin to release heat.
-Vasoconstriction:
•Blood vessels contract and move away from the skin to conserve heat.

Question 17

Vasoconstriction and vasodilation:

Answer 17

-Blood pressure:
•High blood pressure = vasoconstriction.
•Low blood pressure = vasodilation.
-Exercise:
•Promotes vasodilation to increase blow flow to tissues.
-Alcohol and nicotine:
•Alcohol promotes vasodilation.
•Nicotine promotes vasoconstriction.

Question 18

Blood is made up of:

Answer 18

55% plasma, 44% red blood cells, 1% white blood cells and platelets.

Question 19

Hematocrit:

Answer 19

-The percentage by volume of red blood cells in your blood.
-Ratio of red blood cells.