Cardio Physiology 6 Flashcards
What are the 2 components of blood?
Plasma and formed elements
Remember: it is a 50/50 split
What are the 3 primary functions of blood?
Transport, immune response, coagulation
- Transport: transport of materials through blood (ions, solutes, organic wastes, O2, CO2, water, homrones, nutrients)
- Immune response usually involves WBC and immunoglobulins
- Coagulation usually involves platelets, and other coagulation factors (this in itself is also an immune response)
What is coagulation?
The prevention of excessive bleeding during an injury or when a blood vessel is punctured.
What does blood produce as part of an immune response?
White blood cells and immunoglobulins
Blood volume is directly proportional to _______.
lean body mass
These coordinate the activity of organs in the body.
Hormones
This is the fraction of blood occupied by the red blood cells
Haematocrit or PCV - packed cell volume
Why is the biconcave shape of red blood cells significant?
- because it has a greater SA:V ratio which allows for efficient diffusion of gases
- also, it makes the cell more flexible which enables it to move through narrow capillaries efficiently
This is the formation of blood cells.
Haematopoiesis
This is the formation of red blood cells
Erythropoiesis
Where are stem cells found?
Red bone marrow
This is a stimulant that stimulates the formation of red blood cells.
Erythropoietin
What does erythropoietin do?
Stimulate the formation of red blood cells
This augments the number of red blood cells present in the blood.
Testosterone
What is the organ responsible for releasing EPO once a change in RBS has been detected?
Kidneys
These are bits/fragments of cells that help with coagulation.
Platelets
These are responsible for transporting O2 in the blood.
Red blood cells
What is so significant in the structure of haemoglobin?
That it contains an Fe2+ - which enables O2 to bind, hence why RBCs are made of haemoglobin because it allows O2 to bind to the cell
How does blood transport heat?
Through mechanisms like vasodilation - which rushes blood to skin and evaporates heat.
The blood usually goes to the skin through cutaneous circulation.
These cells are responsible for immune response and defense mechanisms. These seek and destroy invading pathogens.
White blood cells
These are the most common cells found in the blood.
Red blood cells
This is responsible for maintaining osmotic pressure, coordinating immune responses and acting as a coagulation factor
Plasma
These are responsible for maintaining pH and ion balance to ensure that the cell keeps functioning.
Other solutes (electrolytes, water)
What is the main component of plasma? What does it do?
Water; it can hold a lot of heat
What are the 2 ways of measuring amount of RBCs in the blood?
By figuring out haematocrit (portion of blood taken up by red blood cells)
By measuring haemoglobin concentration
This is a condition characterised by low haemoglobin levels - whereby blood carries less O2 and therefore reduces amount of O2 delivered to tissues as well as exercise ability.
Anaemia
What is the main cause of anaemia?
Fe deficiency
This organ senses when oxygen levels in the blood are depressed.
Kidneys
What is the disadvantage of having high amounts of RBC in the blood?
There will be more solid stuff (aka formed elements) present in the blood - which will affect circulation because it could cause blockages and impact transportation of materials
What is the source of all blood types?
Stem cells
