Composition, production and function of blood Flashcards
What are is blood made of (4)
Blood is made up of plasma (the liquid of the blood) and consists of three cellular components:
• Red blood cells which transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues
• White blood cells which protect against infection
• Platelets which interact with blood vessels and clotting factors to maintain vascular integrity
The plasma also contains lots of clotting factors such as fibrinogen.
what is serum
Once the clotting factors are removed from the blood what is left is called serum (serum = plasma – clotting factors), which contains:
• Glucose
• Electrolytes such as sodium and potassium
• Proteins such as immunoglobulins and hormones
when blood is centrifuged is separates into 3 layers, what are these layers (from top to bottom) and what do they contain
-
Plasma:
- Clotting or coagulation factors
- Albumin
- Antibodies
-
Buffy coat:
- Platelets
- White cells or leukocytes
- Red blood cells
What is the function of blood
-
Transport:
- Gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide in red cells)
- Nutrients, waste and messages in plasma
-
Maintenance of vascular integrity:
- Prevention of leaks (platelets and clotting factor)
- Prevention of blockages (anticoagulants and fibrinolytics)
-
Protection from pathogens:
- Phagocytes and killing (granulocytes/monocytes)
- Antigen recognition and antibody formation (lymphocytes)
- Carriage of physiologically active compounds
platelets develop from the myeloid progenitor cell called
megakaryocytes
what is the lifespan of RBC
3 months
what is the lifespan of platelets
10 days
name all the cells that develop from the myeloid progenitor cell myeloblast (5)
neutrophil, basophil, eosinophil, mast cells, macrophages
name the cells that originate from lymphoid stem cells
B and T lymphocytes
RBCs develop from the myeloid progenitor cell called
erythroblasts
When erythroblasts gain haemoglobin the nucleus condenses and is extruded from the cell. This cell still contains ribosomal material in the cytoplasm and is called (1). This ribosomal material is lost over 3 days and during this time and this cell is subsequently called (2) and is released into the circulation.
- a reticulocyte (immature RBC)
- erythrocyte
Substances required for this production of RBCs include
- Metals: Iron, copper, cobalt, manganese
- Vitamins: B12, folic acid, thiamine, Vit B6, C, E
- Amino acids
- Hormones: Erythropoietin, GM-CSF, androgens, thyroxine
What chains are present in haemoglobin A
(alpha, alpha, beta, beta) - this is adult haemoglobin
what chains are present in haemoglobin F
(alpha, alpha, gamma, gamma) is the predominant type in the foetus.
what binds to haemoglobin in the open deoxygenated state thereby reducing its affinity for oxygen
2,3 diphosphoglycerate - a product of red cell metabolism
increase or decrease in these 2,3, DPG, H and CO2 factors promote oxygen release
increase
when RBCs are degraded the haemoglobin moelcules is broken down to form
bilirubin
unconjugated bilirubin is transported in the plasma bound to
albumin
Once unconjugated bilirubin reaces the liver it is conjugated to
glucoronic acid
In the small bowel, conjugated bilirubin is converted to
stercobilinogen
tissue basophils are called
mast cells
tissue monocytes are called
macrophages