Intro To Blood

Question 1

What’s the average circulating blood volume in a typical adult male?

Answer 1

5litres of blood

1L in lungs
1L in heart and arterial circulation
3L in systemic venous circulation

Question 2

List 6 functions of the blood

Answer 2

1. Plasma carries physiologically active compounds
2. Clotting (platelets)
3. Defence (white blood cells)
4. Carriage of gas (red blood cells)
5. Thermoregulation
6. Maintenance of ECF pH

Question 3

Describe the composition of blood plasma

Answer 3

95% water
Plasma proteins:
Albumin (transports lipids & steroid hormone)
Globulin (alpha beta and gamma)
Fibrinogen and other clotting factors

Question 4

What is oncotic pressure?

Answer 4

Favoured movement of fluid into the capillary.

There is a balance between oncotic pressure and capillary hydrostatic pressure (blood pressure) which favours movement out of the capillary. The concentration of fluid remains unchanged but the volume of interstitial fluid and plasma changes.

Question 5

What is it the normal life span of red blood cells?

Answer 5

120 days

Question 6

What is the normal life span of platelets?

Answer 6

10 days

Question 7

What is the function of the red blood cell?

Answer 7

Carries oxygen
Densely packed with haemoglobin which carries 4 oxygen molecules.
Oxyhaemoglobin is arterial
Deoxyhaemoglobin is venous

Question 8

What is the function of erythropoietin?

Answer 8

It is a hormone that
speeds up the formation of red blood cells.

Question 9

Where is erythropoietin made?

Answer 9

In the kidneys

Question 10

What can increase secretion of erythropoietin?

Answer 10

Anaemia, lung disease, cardiac dysfunction, haemorrhage

Question 11

What are the 5 main types of white blood cells?

Answer 11

1. Lymphocytes
2. Neutrophils
3. Monocytes
4. Basophils
5. Eosinophils