Composition of blood

Question 1

3 general functions of blood

Answer 1

Transport, immune response and coagulation

Question 2

Transport

Answer 2

• O2, water, nutrients
• CO2, waste products
• Ions associated with pH and
  homeostasis
• Heat - a product of
  oxidative reactions in cells
• Hormones - co-ordinate the
  activities of organs of the body
• Immune cells
• Coagulation factors

Question 3

Why need to get rid of CO2

Answer 3

Accumulation of CO2 forms a weak acid, makes our pH acidic

Question 4

Immune

Answer 4

Fighting infection and production of the
immune response
* White blood cells
* Immunoglobulins

Question 5

Coagulation

Answer 5

Stop bleeding
* Platelets
* Coagulation factors in plasma

Question 6

What do platelets do?

Answer 6

Little bits of blood that form a plate

Question 7

What forms a mesh in the plasma?

Answer 7

The protein fibres in the plasma

Question 8

What is diff about morbidly obese people

Answer 8

They have more adipose tissue which doesnt have a lot of blood so their ratio changes

Question 9

What is plasma made of mostly

Answer 9

H20, stores heat and allows solubility, very neutral

Question 10

Plasma proteins and what they do
7%

Answer 10

Albumins - Maintain osmotic pressure
IImmunoglobulins - mmune response
Fibrinogens - Coagulation factor
Enzymes and hormones - Lots of functions; varies by person

Question 11

Why are hormone concs. very low

Answer 11

They are very powerful

Question 12

Other solutes 1%

Answer 12

Electrolytes - the salty stuff, Maintain pH and ion balance, me potential
Organic nutrients - Cells need these to function!
Organic wastes - Cells are getting rid of this

Question 13

Formed elements of blood 45%

Answer 13

Platelets - productt of a big cell breaking up, Cell fragments that participate in clotting to stop bleeding, very small no.s
WBCs - less that 0.1%, Immune response and defense mechanisms; these seek and destroy invading pathogens
RBCs - 99.9%, By far the most common cell
found in blood; highly specialized
to transport oxygen

Question 14

What is haematopoiesis?

Answer 14

Formation of blood cells

Question 15

What is unique about blood cells

Answer 15

They dont divide and keep having to be made

Question 16

Where are blood cells initiated

Answer 16

Initiated in red bone marrow, which contains blood stem cells

Question 17

Progenitors of all blood cells

Answer 17

Blood STEM cells, they are pluripotent

Question 18

Formation of RBCs are stimulated by

Answer 18

EPO (erythropoietin)

Question 19

Unique of RBCs

Answer 19

Dont have nucleus and many organelles because they have one specific function and dont need to divide

Question 20

Functions and characteristics of RBCs

Answer 20

Biconcave Disc shape (2 dips)
- large surface area:volume ratio
- allows for efficient diffusion of gases due to short distance between the biconcave
- flexibility for movement through narrow capillaries as it can bend

Question 21

O2 transport

Answer 21

• Contain large amounts of
  haemoglobin (4 protein chains)
• One-third weight of RBC
• Uses iron as part of the haem
  structures to bind oxygen
• Four haem units, so each
  haemoglobin can bind four
  oxygen molecules

Question 22

What is Haematorcrit or PCV?

Answer 22

The fraction of blood occupied
by the red cells is called the
haematocrit or packed cell volume (PCV).
Centrifuged blood separates
into its main components.
Typically red cells make up
about 50% of blood volume
i.e. Haematocrit ~0.5
(The rest is plasma / white cells)

Question 23

What does Anaemia do?

Answer 23

Blood carries less O2
Reduces amount delivered to tissues
Reduces exercise ability
e.g. Fe deficiency in diet

Question 24

What is needed to make Hemoglobin?

Answer 24

Iron

Question 25

What augments Haemoglobin production?

Answer 25

Testosterone, thats why makes have more Haemoglobin

Question 26

What triggers Erthropoiesis?

Answer 26

Low levels of O2 in blood –>
Kidneys sense that oxygen levels in the blood are depressed –> Kidneys release EPO –>EPO circulates to bone marrow –> Stimulates the production of more RBCs
=> blood can carry more O2

Question 27

How can athletes manipulates physiology?

Answer 27

Go to high altitudes to train where low O2, stimulates more Erythrocyte production and when they come back to sea level, they have a higher conc

Question 28

Issues with more RBCs

Answer 28

More gooey and more likely to lot