Exam 2- The Blood Flashcards
Erythrocyte Components
Erythrocytes have a concave shape and no nuclei which helps the oxygen move in and out more easily. They also contain hemoglobin which carries the oxygen around the body (45%)
Leucocytes Components
Leucocytes are involved in immunity. They are split into two different categories: Lymphocytes (divided in B and T cells) and phagocytes. Some are able to engulf bacteria and they are the largest cells in the blood (1%)
Plasma Components
Plasma carries the following dissolved nutrients: Glucose, Urea and Blood. It also carries these substances: Proteins, antibodies and fibrinogen. It is the fluid part of the blood and yellow in color. (55%)
Basic components of Platelets
This part of the blood is involved in the clotting. It is the smallest component in the blood. Platelets create scabs and react when exposed to air. (1%). More in ‘Healing a Cut’
Describe how a cut is healed
Soluble Fibrinogen floats around in your plasma daily. When you get a cut the is exposed to air. The platelets form the initial plug, but when the blood is exposed to air it triggers the soluble fibrinogen to react to form insoluble fibrin using the blood clotting factor. This process is a chemical reaction. Fibrin threads and begins to form a web like mesh which traps blood cells within it. A blood clot or scab begins to form.
Objective- Block torn vessel to the extent that the rest of the blood will not flow away.
Describe Hemophilia and its treatment
A Hemophiliac does not have the blood clotting factors therefore the the chemical reaction which changes the Soluble Fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin cannot occur. This means that when the cut is exposed to air the hemophiliac will continue to bleed as the platelets are not strong enough.
Treatment: Injections of blood clotting factor
Explain how we defend against viruses
1) A virus is a protein that contains genetic information. This genetic information is what allows the virus to replicate.
2) The virus begins to reproduce and the cell begins to create viral antigens. The cells still have its normal antigens but the virus has provided the info. to produce viral antigens as well
3) Tc cells (lymphocytes) are constantly floating around your body. The Tc cells begin to recognize the viral antigens and as a result they begin to produce cytotins. This chemical causes apoptosis to take place. This is a process by which cell death takes place.
4) After this the Th cells (helper) make more Tc they release a chemical called cytokines the production of cytokines creates more Tc cells. This allows for apoptosis to continue to attack the infected cells.
Explain HIV AIDS
HIV can cause AIDS because it infects the Th cells. The Th cells allow for the Tc cells and B cells multiply. When one has HIV those cells can’t even multiply even if they recognize the bacterial or viral antigens.
How do you know if someone has AIDS
What does HIV stand for?
When the person has less than 200 Th cells per microliter of blood
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
What is a vaccine?
A vaccine is a whole part of a weakened or killed virus or bacterium so that it does not multiply.
What do vaccines do?
Vaccines cause the body to make a lot of B and Tc cells against the vaccine so that it recognizes the antigen.
These remain in the body as memory B and Tc cells.
What are memory B and Tc cells?
Memory B cells recognize specific bacterial antigens
Memory Tc cells recognize specific viral antigens
How do memory T and B cells protect against a virus?
When a real disease enters the body the cells quickly proliferate and produce respective cytotoxins or antibodies to defend against the disease
