Cardiovascular System - Blood Flashcards
What is blood?
Fluid type of connective tissue
What is the percentage split of plasma and cells in the blood?
Plasma 55%
Cells 45%
Blood accounts for 7% of body weight. What is the average amount in litres for adult males and females?
On average Males have approximately 5.6 litres and Females 4.5 litres
Name three functions of the blood…
- Homeostasis through Transportation (of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, waste and hormones)
- Helps regulate pH and temperature
- Immune function with antibodies, phagocytes, clotting factors etc..
What is blood plasma?
The yellow coloured liquid that remains when the cells are removed from the blood.
What does blood plasma consist of?
Name 4/8
- Mostly water (91%)
- Proteins (7%)
- Mineral salts (0.9%)
- Nutrients
- Organic waste material
- Hormones
- Enzymes
- Gases
What organ synthesis’s the majority of plasma proteins?
The liver
Liver cells - hepatocytes
Name the most numerous plasma protein…
Albumin
Name 2 functions of Albumin protein…
- Carrier of substances (lipids and steroid hormones)
- Maintains osmotic pressure
(Albumin is responsible for 75-80% of osmotic pressure of plasma)
Name 3 blood plasma proteins…
- Albumin
- Globulins (38%)
- Fibrinogen (7%)
List two functions of globulins
- Immunity - immunoglobulins (antibodies) secreted by B cells
- Transport iron, lipids and vitamins
What is another name for Fibrinogen?
Clotting factor one
Blood plasma nutrients pass into the blood from digested products and distributed to all body cells.
These nutrients include … (name 4)
- Simple sugars (carbohydrates) - mostly glucose
- Amino acids (building blocks for proteins)
- Fats/oils - carried by proteins
- Vitamins
Name the two main mineral components..
Hint: ions
- Cations - positively charged ions
2. Anions - negatively charged ions
Name 4 cations
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Magnesium
Name 3 Anions
- Chlorides
- Bicarbonates
- Phosphates
Name 4 organic waste materials found / transported in blood plasma
- Urea - produced from protein breakdown
- Creatinine - by-product of muscle metabolism
- Uric acid - from the breakdown of purines
- Carbon dioxide - from cell metabolism
What are hormones?
Chemical messengers carried by the blood
Fill in the missing word:
______ are catalysts for biochemical reactions in the body.
Enzymes
Name the two gases found in the blood plasma
- Oxygen (small amount)
2. Carbon dioxide (large amount)
Name 3 blood cells
- Erythrocytes = red blood cells
- Leukocytes = white blood cells
- Thrombocytes = platelets
What is haematopoiesis?
Haematopoiesis is the production of all blood cells.
What is the name of the original stem cell that all blood cells originate and where in the body is it found?
All blood cells originate from pluripotent stem cells in the red bone marrow
Describe the structure of an erythrocyte and its life span.
- biconcave structure (large surface area)
- no nucleus (which creates the shape of the cell)
- life span of 90 - 100 days
What is the percentage of blood volume occupied by erythrocytes called?
haematocrit
Give the approximate haematocrit percentage in females and males…
Females roughly 42%
Males approx 47%
Why might women have a lower haematocrit volume?
Because women lose blood through menstruation hence the lower blood count
What molecules make up erythrocytes?
Haemoglobin molecules
Each erythrocyte has how many million Hb (haemoglobin) molecules?
280 million Hb molecules
How many polypeptide chains does one haemoglobin consist of?
Each Hb consists of 4 polypeptide chains (globin)
Each polypeptide chain is bound to a pigment called ‘haem’ which contains ___
Iron
Each Haemoglobin molecule can carry up to 4 oxygen molecules.
Name the sub-units in Adult and Foetal haemoglobin.
Adult = 2 alpha and 2 beta sub-units Foetal = 2 alpha and 2 gamma sub-units
Why is blood red?
Blood appears red due to the interaction of iron and oxygen within the haem units. (more specifically how it reflects light)
What does erythropoiesis mean?
The formation of new red blood cells.
Where does erythropoiesis occur?
In red bone marrow
Name the 3 nutrients required for erythrocyte formation…
- Vitamin B12
- Folate (vitamin B9)
- Iron
What does hypoxia mean?
low blood oxygen
Which hormone does hypoxia stimulate from the kidneys?
erythropoietin (EPO)
The hormone erythropoietin which is secreted from the kidneys stimulates what in the bone marrow?
Erythropoiesis (red blood cell production)
Name three possible causes of hypoxia?
- high altitudes
- haemolysis
- Blood loss
(4. pregnancy)
What is haemolysis?
Haemolysis describes the destruction of erythrocytes to release haemoglobin into plasma.
What specialised cell carries out haemolysis?
Macrophages (phagocytic cells) found in many tissues; especially the spleen, bone marrow and liver.
What is bilirubin?
A yellow coloured pigment formed from the breakdown of haem.
Where is bilirubin excreted?
In bile and urine
Where is bilirubin predominantly formed?
In the spleen, bone marrow and liver.
Fill in the missing words…
Once formed, bilirubin is described as being ‘_____’. Bilirubin must be conjugated in the ____ for it to be effectively secreted in the ___ tract.
unconjugated
liver
GI
Name the two major blood group systems.
- ABO system
2. Rhesus factor
Fill in the missing word…
The ABO system is based on two ______ antigens called A and B
glycolipid
What blood group do those who have erythrocyte displaying antigen A have?
Blood group A
Which blood group is described as the universal donor and why?
Blood group O- is described as the universal donor because erythrocytes have neither A or B antigens for antibodies to attach to.
Which blood group is described as the universal recipient and why?
Blood group AB+ is the universal recipient because it contains no anti-bodies against either A or B antigens that could be donated.
What is Rhesus factor?
Another surface antigen found on erythrocytes.
Those that have the rhesus antigen (Rh) are rhesus positive; those lacking the Rh antigens are Rh negative. Which is the dominant gene?
Rhesus positive is the dominant gene. (85% of people are rhesus positive)