CVS Flashcards
Describe the phases of the blood
- Cellular component (45%) - red cells, white cells & platelets
- Fluid component (55%) - plasma
How many litres of blood do we have?
5
What does ‘haematocrit’ refer to?
The volume of red blood cells, and therefore haemoglobin, in the blood.
Normal = 0.45
What is haemopoiesis?
The process of production of blood cells and platelets which continues throughout life. Primitive cells (stem cells) are pluripotent - can differentiate into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Lifetime of:
RBC =
Platelets =
WBC =
RBC = 120 days Platelets = 7-10days WBC = 6hrs
Where are the precursor cells for red blood cells located?
Adults, children, in utero
Bone marrow -
In adults, this is in the axial skeleton (skull, ribs, spine, pelvis, long bones)
In children, this is in all bones
In utero this is in the yolk sac, then liver and spleen
What would be suspected if precursor cells for blood cells are found in the blood?
sign of leukaemia
How are precursor stem cells stimulated to divide to form blood constituents?
Hormonal growth factors stimulate their proliferation and differentiation:
Epo/Erythropoietin - hormone made in kidney = RBC
G-CSF (Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor) = WBC
Tpo = platelets
Why do RBCs have a relatively short lifespan?
Simple, anucleate with no mitochondria so cannot repair themselves
What are young RBCs known as?
reticulocytes
Effect of decreased pH on oxygen dissociation curve?
Shifts right
Effect of increased temp on oxygen dissociation curve?
Shifts right
Effect of decreased temp on oxygen dissociation curve?
shifts left
Effect of increased pH on oxygen dissociation curve?
shifts left
What do RBCs consist of?
Membrane to enclose haemoglobin (would clog uo kidneys if not enclosed)
Enzymes of glycolysis
Haemoglobin for O2 transport
Role of haemoglobin?
Carries O2 from lungs to tissues where it transfers O2 to myoglobin in muscles
Structure of haemoglobin
Haemoglobin is formed of 2 alpha and 2 beta chains and 4 haem groups - has an
overall quaternary structure.
Oxygen binds to the Fe 2+ in haem REVERSIBLY
What determines an individual’s blood type?
Possession of the gene that results in the synthesis of the A antigen on the surface of RBCs = Type A.
Type A individuals have anti-B antibodies in their plasma. A antigen is co-dominant.
Gene that results in the synthesis of the B antigen on the surface of RBCs = Type B.
Type B individuals have anti-A antibodies in their plasma. B antigen is codominant.
Neither = O type.
Type O individuals have both anti-A and anti-B antibodies in their plasma - anti-erythrocyte antibodies, known as natural antibodies. Type O antigen is recessive.
UNIVERSAL DONOR.
Both = AB
AB individuals have neither anti-A nor anti-B antibodies in their plasma = UNIVERSAL RECIPIENT.
A is more common than B
O is must common
AB is most rare
What does Rhesus positive mean about an individual?
Rhesus negative?
Positive possess D antigen.
Negative do not.
What is the normal blood haemoglobin? What is the significance of a score that is lower than this?
Higher?
Normal = 12.5-15.5 g/dl
Lower = anaemia.
Higher = polycthaemia (caused by smoking, lung diseases, inefficient lungs
meaning less O2 is exchanged so more haemoglobin is required etc.)
Symptoms of anaemia?
Tiredness, lethargy, malaise, reduced exercise tolerance,
shortness of breath on exertion and angina
Signs of anaemia?
Palor, pale mucus membranes and palmar creases (pink hands), glossitis
(sore tongue), angular stomatitis ( cracking at corners of mouth), kylonychia (caused
by the iron deficiency - spoon shaped nails)
What are the classifications of anaemia? (5)
Iron deficiency, B12/folate deficiency, anaemia of chronic disorder,
haemolysis, bone marrow failure/infiltration
Describe iron deficiency anaemia
Lack of iron needed for haemoglobin production - fewer small red cells produced.
MCV<80fl.
Causes:
- bleeding: occult gastrointestinal, menhorragia
Dietary:
most common cause worldwide.
What is the significance of red cell size?
Measured as MCV (mean cell volume).
Normal = 82-96fl
Iron deficiency characterised by low haemoglobin and MCV<80fl.
Macrocytosis = MCV> 100fl. Usually caused by B12/deficiency anaemia but can have raised MCV due to liver disease/alcohol/hypothyroidism.
Describe B12 and folate deficiency anaemia
Causes macrocytosis.
B12 and folate needed for DNA synthesis - without, RBCs cannot be made in bone marrow so less are released. All dividing cells affected, but bone marrow most active so detected first.
Causes:
B12
Stomach damage: less parietal cells —> less intrinsic factor. B12 binds to Intrinsic factor in the terminal ileum and is then absorbed.
Autoimmune disease called pernicious anaemia causes antibodies again gastric parietal cells to be made - slow onset, as liver has vast store of B12 (can last 4yrs).
Folate:
Malabsorption e.g. coeliac.
Dietary - dont eat enough fruit and veg
Increased need due to haemolysis.
Describe haemolytic anaemia
Normal or increased cell production but DECREASED LIFE SPAN < 30 DAYS, red
blood cells are destroyed before their 120 day lifespan
Describe e.gs of congenital causes of anaemia
- Membrane issues e.g SPHEROCYTOSIS - blood cells are spherical so
get stuck in vessels easily. Dominant condition but variable penetrance. - Enzyme issues e.g PYRUVATE KINASE DEFICIENCY
- Haemoglobin issues e.g. SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA (defect in beta globin chain in
haemoglobin) - whereby red blood cells are sickle shaped thus get trapped in vessels
easily, and THALASSAEMIA - mutation in haemoglobin chains, beta is more common
in india + Pakistan whereas alpha is more common in east e.g. Thailand
Examples of acquired anaemia?
autoimmune - immune system attacks own blood cells, can be triggered by a blood transfusion due to presence of foreign antibodies.
mechanical - fragmentation of RBCs by mechanical heart valve/intravascular thrombosis
pregnancy - haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn.
Describe haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn
- mother has rhesus negative blood and baby has rhesus positive. When mother’s blood is exposed to babies blood in pregnancy, she recognises foreign rhesus positive blood and begins making antibodies against it. First baby is unaffected due to time it takes to produce antibodies - however mother is sensitised to rhesus positive.
If second baby has rhesus positive, when blood is exposed antibodies are produced immediately and begin destroying baby’s RBCs resulting in homeless of foetus/ newborn leading to anaemia and jaundice.
Antibodies can cross to baby via placenta - this is known as rhesus disease.
What are the types of white blood cells?
neutrophils
lymphocytes - B cells and T cells
Describe neutrophils
Most numerous WBCs. Lifespan 10hrs.
Phagocytose and kill bacteria.
Release chemotaxins to signal more WBCs to come to site, and cytokines for inflammatory response.
Lack of/compromised function results in recurrent bacterial infections
Describe B lymphocyes
Made in Bone marrow, stored in secondary lymphoid organs.
Differentiate into plasma cells and produce immunoglobins when stimulated by exposure to foreign antigens.
Describe T lymphocytes
Made in bone marrow, mature in Thymus.
Some are helper cells (CD4, help B cells in antibody generation, responsible for cell edited immunity), some are cytotoxic cells (CD8)
Define acute leukemia
proliferation of primitive precursor cells usually found in bone marrow. Proliferation without differentiate.
Replaces normal bone marrow cells, resulting in anaemia, neutropenia(infections), thrombocytopenia(bleeding).
Detected by presence of primitive white precursor cells in the blood.
How do acute myeloblastic leukaemia, acute lymphocytic leukaemia and high grade lymphoma differ?
AML: malignant proliferation of the precursor myeloblasts (unipotent stem cells) in the bone marrow. Primarily affects adults. 50% survive 5 years.
ALL: malignant proliferation of the lymphoblast precursor cells in the bone marrow. Primarily affects children - 80% cured.
High grade lymphoma: lymphocytes in lymph nodes become malignant. Classified as Hodgkins/Non-Hodgkins, spreads to liver, spleen , bone marrow and blood from lymph nodes.
Describe platelets:
Small cytoplasmic anucleate cells that block up holes in blood vessels. Made in bone marrow from megakaryocytes.
Spherical, enucleate - cannot repair itself.
Lifespan 5-10 days.
Significance of reduced/uncreased platelet count?
Normal number = 140-400x10^9/l
Reduced: thrombocytopenia. Risk of cerebral bleeding. Count >80 = increased bleeding, >20 = spontaneous bleeding.
High numbers = thrombocytosis, can lead to arterial and venous thrombosis, leading to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Describe the coagulation proteins present in the blood.
Coagulation proteins (enzymes)- produced in the liver. Key enzyme is thrombin (makes 'plug'). Vitamin K is essential for correct synthesis of coagulation factors 2, 7, 9 and 10. They circulate in inactive form. Convert soluble fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin polymer. Overactivity = thrombosis Failure = bleeding
What proteins are present in the blood?
Coagulation proteins.
Plasma proteins (soluble, in plasma)
- albumin is most numerous.
- carrier proteins for nutrients/hormones
- immuniglobins
Brief roles of albumin
Produced in liver.
Maintenance of oncotic pressure.
Lack of results in oedema.
Carries fatty acids, steroids, thyroid hormones.
What are immunoglobins?
Antibodies produced by plasma cells. Several classes: IgG = most important IgM = precursor to all IgA, IgE = produced in response to non-self protein antigens
What is haemostats?
The arrest of bleeding.
Involves physiological processes of blood coagulation and the contraction of damaged blood vessels.
Why is blood usually fluid inside blood vessels?
Proteins of the coagulation cascade and the platelets circulate in an inactive state.
Correct balance is vital to life. (risk thrombosis vs. bleeding)
What activates the proteins and platelets of the coagulation cascade?
activated by tissue factor, present on all cells apart from endothelial cells - when endothelium is punctured, blood comes into contact with tissue factor and starts clotting.
How does the coagulation cascade eventually create blood clotting?
Why is the fact that it has multiple steps important?
Cascade to generate the key enzyme thrombin which cleaves fibrinogen to create fibrin polymerisation - blood clot.
Multiple steps allow for biological amplification and allows for regulation - not an all or nothing response so can be graduated depending on the severity of the challenge.
What is the role of platelets in the coagulation cascade?
Responsible for primary haemostasis - adhere to damaged endothelium and aggregate to form a platelet plug, buying time for coagulation cascade
Briefly describe key features of the coagulation cascade:
- Platelets aggregate and form plug in damaged epithelium - primary haemostasis - due to exposure of collagen fibres.
However, fibrin needed to mesh them together.
2. Extrinsic pathway - contact of sub endothelial cells with blood activates tissue factor (3), which is located on the outer plasma membrane of tissue cells. It activates factor 7 which activates factor 10.
This pathway starts the ball rolling - initiates thrombin’s positive feedback mechanisms on the intrinsic pathway independently of factor 12-(starting point of intrinsic pathway).
Factor 10 triggers formation of thrombin from inactive prothrombin that is circulating in the blood. Thrombin converts inactive fibrinogen to active fibrin strands.
Thrombin also activates factors 5, 7, 8, 11 and 13, allowing the intrinsic pathway to produce more thrombin.
Intrinsic pathway: 12–>11–>9+8—>10+5 —> thrombin(2)—>fibrin(1)
Thrombin;s activation of factor 13 provides cross links for the fibrin strands, strengthening the mesh holding down the platelet plug.
Describe the disease haemophilia.
Brief epidemiology of 3 types.
Recessive X-linked bleeding disorder caused by not enough clotting factors in the blood leading to slow clotting time or long prothrombin time (PTT). Only affects males - females are carriers.
A and B = bleed into muscles and joints.
VWD = muco-cutaneous.
A - deficiency in factor 8. Rare, 1 in 10000. Treat with factor 8.
B- deficiency in factor 9. Treat with factor 9. More rare, 1 in 50000.
Von Willebrands disease - incidence up to 1% (common.) Affects males and females - autosomal dominant. Mild bleeding disorder, deficiency in factor 11.
Describe Von Willebrands disease
Autosomal dominant inheritance.
Lack of Von Willebrands Factor (VWF) - factor 11.
Required for platelets to bind to damaged blood vessels - lack leads to muco-cutaneous bleeding (bleeding in skin and mucous membranes).
Common - incidence 1%.
Usually mild - often unrecognised and undiagnosed.
Common causes of acquired bleeding disorders?
Vitamin K importance.
Most common = anti-platelet/anti-coagulation medication.
Other:
liver disease -
Vit. K deficiency-
Drugs (aspirin, heparin, warfarin-inhibits vitK, steroids )
DIC - disseminated intravascular coagulation caused by sepsis/obstetric/malignancy
Liver disease as a cause of acquired bleeding disorders
Liver is site of synthesis of coagulation factors and fibrinogen. Damage caused mainly by alcohol.
Vitamin K deficiency
needed for correct synthesis of coag factors 2, 7, 9, 10 (‘1972’). Deficiency caused by malabsorption e.g. in obstructive jaundice. Long PTT. Treat with IV vitamin K. Without vitamin K coag factors are still produced but do not work.
Disseminated Intravascular coagulation
Breakdown of haemostatic balance leads to simultaneous bleeding and microvascular thrombosis.
Causes: sepsis, obstetric, malignancy.
Activation of coagulation cascade occurs inside blood vessels, thrombin converts fibrinogen to fibrin leading to formation of microvascular thrombosis’ - platelet plugs - everywhere.
Formation of these uses up clotting factors and platelets leading to a deficiency so bleeding occurs.
Treatment - treat underlying cause, stop generation of intravascular thrombin, transfuse new platelets.
First response to blood vessel damage
Vasoconstriction due to neural control and release of endothelia-1 by endothelial cells.
This temporarily slows blood flow to affected area and presses opposed endothelial surfaces together inducing stickiness.
This is only permanent as a stand alone response in smallest vessels of the microcirculation.
2 interdependent processes following vasoconstriction in response to blood vessel damage.
1, formation of a platelet plug
2. blood coagulation
Describe in more detail the formation of a platelet plug
- Platelets aggregate and form plug in damaged epithelium - primary haemostasis - due to exposure of collagen fibres. VWF (factor 11) is adhered to collagen, and platelets adhere to the factor via a receptor on the platelet membrane called glycoprotein 1b factor.
This triggers the platelet to exocytose platelet dense granules which release ADP which causes platelet amplification.
Thrombin induces platelet activation (increases its surface area by making in spiky) and further thrombin release, in positive feedback.
Platelet activation increases expression of glycoprotein receptors on the platelets which bind to fibrinogen allowing new platelets to adhere to the old one.
Platelet adhesion rapidly induces them to synthesise THROMBOXANE A2 (causes
vasoconstriction & platelet activation) which is then released into the extracellular
fluid and acts locally to further stimulate platelet aggregation
How does the platelet plug stay in the right positition in the damages epithelium, e.g. doesn’t expand away on either side?
Normal undamaged endothelium on either side synthesised and releases prostacyclin (aka prostaglandin I2)which inhibits platelet aggregation.
Normal endothelium also releases nitric oxide which is a vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet adhesion, activation and aggregation.
What is blood coagulation?
transformation of blood into a solid gel called a
clot or thrombus which consists mainly of a protein polymer called fibrin.
- Clotting occurs locally around the platelet plug and is the dominant haemostatic
defence - its function is to support & reinforce the platelet plug and to solidify
blood that remains in the wound channel
Important indirect roles of the liver in blood clotting
Site of production for many plasma clotting factors.
Produces bile salts essential for absorption of lipid-soluble vitamin K, required to produce prothrombin and several other clotting factors.
What is the fibrinolytic system?
Fibrin clots are a temporary fix until permanent repair of blood vessel occurs.
Plasminogen is converted into plasmin by activators, which goes on to break down fibrin.
How are cardiac cells joined?
By desmosomes called intercalated discs. These also have gap junctions within them.
Describe the thick filament of myofibrils
Myosin forms the majority of the thick filament.
Composed of 2 large polypeptide heavy chains and 4 smaller light chains, combining to form a molecule with 2 globular heads made of light and heavy chains and a long tail of intertwined heavy chains.
Each globular head has 2 binding sites - one for ATP, one for attaching to the thin filament.
Attached to the myosin head is an inorganic phosphate molecule and ADP.
ATP binding site also serves as an ATPase that hydrolyses the bound ATP to provide energy for contraction.
Describe the thin filament in myofibrils
Actin forms majority of thin filament.
Also troponin and tropomyosin, important for regulating contraction.
Actin is a globular protein consisting of a single polypeptide which polymerises with another actin monomers to form a double-stranded helix known as F-actin.
Each actin molecule has a binding site for myosin.
Tropomyosin occupies the grooves between the 2 actin strands and overlies the myosin binding sites.
Troponin protein changes shape when Ca2+ binds to it, pushing the tropomyosin aside and exposing the myosin binding sites on actin enabling contraction to occur.
A band of sarcomere
Whole length of thick filament.
Has some overlapping thin filament.
I band of sarcomere
region occupied only by thin filaments, z disc forms midline
Z line of sarcomere
define the limits of one sarcomere. Contains actin, tropomyosin, troponin.
H zone of sarcomere
area occupied by myosin only
M line of sarcomere
In the centre of the H zone.
Corresponds to proteins that link together the central region of adjacent thick filaments.