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Anatomy & Physiology > Intro to Blood > Flashcards

Intro to Blood Flashcards

1
Q

What are the functions of blood ?

A
  • transport
  • regulation of pH, osmosis, body temp
  • maintenance of homeostasis
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2
Q

Define Hematocrit

A

the ratio of the volume of red blood cells to the total volume of bold
(packed cell volume)

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3
Q

What are the main components of blood ?

A
  • Plasma - 55%
  • Erythrocytes - 45% (formed elements)
  • Buffy coat = <1% ( formed elements)
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4
Q

What are the 3 major categories of plasma proteins ?

A
  • albumins - smallest and most abundant
  • globulins
  • fibrinogen
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5
Q

Describe albumins

A
  • most abundant - 3.5 - 5.0 g/dL blood
  • contributes to viscosity & osmolarity
  • influences blood pressure, flow and fluid balance
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6
Q

Describe Globulins

A
  • antibodies
  • 1.0 -1.5 g/dL blood
  • provide immune system function
  • alpha, beta and gamme globulins
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7
Q

Describe Fibrinogen

A
  • 0.2-0.45 g/dL blood
  • precursors of fibrin threads that help form blood clots
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8
Q

What are some functions of plasma proteins ?

A
  • blood viscosity
  • provide 1/6th of the total buffering power of the blood
  • transport substances circulating in the blood
  • essential for blood clotting mechanisms
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9
Q
A
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10
Q

What are some of the sub types of granulocytes ?

A
  • neutrophils
  • eosinophils
  • basophils
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11
Q

What are the sub-types of granulocytes ?

A
  • lymphocytes
  • monocytes
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12
Q

What’s another word for platelets ?

A

thrombocytes

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13
Q

What is haematopoiesis stimulated by?

A

erythropoietin, thrombopoietin & colony-stimulating factors

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14
Q

How are erythrocytes formed ?

A
  • haemotopoietic stem cells
  • committed stem cells
  • early erythroblast
  • late erythroblast
  • normoblast
  • reticulocyte
  • erythrocyte
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15
Q

Describe the structure of haemoglobin

A
  • each Hb molecule consists of 4 protein chains (globins) and 4 heme groups
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16
Q

Describe heme groups

A

non-protein moeity that binds oxygen to ferrous ion (Fe2+) at its centre

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17
Q

Describe Globins

A
  • 2 alpha & 2 beta chains
  • 5% carbon dioxide in blood is bound to global moiety
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18
Q

What is the haemoglobin concentration of whole blood?

A

females = 12-16 g/dL
males = 13-18 g/dL

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19
Q

What is the red blood cell count in men and women?

A

men = 4.6-6.2 million/uL
women = 4.2-5.4 million/uL

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20
Q

Why are RBC counts lower in women ?

A
  • androgens stimulate RBC production
  • women have periodic menstrual loss
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21
Q

Define Erythropoiesis

A

production of red blood cells

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22
Q

Describe the negative feedback control involved in erythrocyte homeostasis

A
  • drop in RBC count causes kidney hypoxemia
  • kidney production of erythropoietin stimulates bone marrow
  • RBC count increases in 3/4 days
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23
Q

What are some examples of stimuli which increases erythropoiesis ?

A
  • low levels of oxygen (hypoxemia)
  • high altitude
  • increase in exercise
24
Q

How long do blood cells circulate for ?

A

120 days

25
Q

Where are expired erythrocytes broken down ?

A
  • in the liver and spleen
  • the freed haemoglobin is degraded into heme and globin
  • cell fragments are phagocytised
26
Q

What are some examples of erythrocyte disorders ?

A
  • polycythemia = an excess of RBCs
  • anaemia = deficiency of RBCs or Hb
27
Q

What are the effects on anaemia?

A
  • tissue hypoxia and necrosis
  • low blood osmolarity
  • low blood viscosity
28
Q

Define antigen

A

substances that can induce an immune response

29
Q

Define antibody

A

proteins that recognise and bind to antigens

30
Q

What is the origin of antigens ?

A

within the body or externally

31
Q

What is the origin of antibodies ?

A

within the body

32
Q

What are neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils ?

A

Granulocytes

33
Q

Describe Neutrophils

A
  • polymorphonuclear leukocytes
  • 60-70% of WBCs
  • barely visible granules in cytoplasm
  • 3-5 lobed nucleus
  • phagocytosis of bacteria & release antimicrobial chemicals
34
Q

Describe Eosinophils

A
  • 2-4% of WBCs
  • large rosy-orange granules
  • bi-lobed nucleus
  • phagocytosis of antigen-antibody complexes, allergens and release enzymes to destroy parasites
35
Q

Describe Basophils

A
  • <1% WBCs
  • large, abundant, violet granules
  • large S-shaped nucleus
  • secrete histamine & heparin
36
Q

Define granules

A

contain enzymes and other chemicals employed in defence against pathogens

37
Q

Describe Lymphocytes

A
  • 25-33%
  • variable amounts of bluish cytoplasm
  • ovoid/round
  • uniform dark violet nucleus
38
Q

Describe monocytes

A
  • 3-8%
  • largest WBC
  • Ovoid, kidney/horseshoe shaped nucleus
39
Q

What are the properties of white blood cells ?

A

phagocytosis, diapedesis, ameboid motion, chemotaxis

40
Q

What are the 4 key features of acute inflammation ?

A
  1. redness
  2. heat
  3. swelling
  4. pain
41
Q

Describe platelets

A
  • colourless
  • 2-4 um diameter
  • no nucleus
  • life span = 8-12 days
42
Q

What are the functions of platelets ?

A
  • secrete vasoconstricors to help reduce blood loss
  • initiate formation of clot-dissolving enzyme
  • chemically attract neutrophils & monocytes to sites of inflammation
  • phagocytise and destroy bacteria
43
Q

What are some mechanisms to prevent blood loss ?

A
  • formation of platelet plug
  • formation of blood clot
  • clot retraction
  • growth of fibrous tissue
44
Q

How are Platelet Plugs formed ?

A
  • damaged blood vessels
  • chemicals released from platelets
  • inhibitors
45
Q

Define coagulation

A
  • last & most effective defence against bleeding
  • conversion of plasma protein fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin threads to from a framework clot
46
Q

What are substances that promote coagulation called ?

A

procoagulants

47
Q

What are substances that inhibit coagulation called ?

A

anticoagulants

48
Q

Where procoagulants produced ?

A

in the liver

49
Q

Describe the process of coagulation

A
  • procoagulants activate 1 factor and it will activate the next to form a reaction cascade
50
Q

What are the 2 coagulation pathways ?

A

extrinsic & intrinsic

51
Q

Describe the extrinsic pathway

A
  • initiated by release of tissue thromboplastin (factor III) from damaged tissue
  • cascade to factor VII, V & X (fewer steps)
  • calcium required
52
Q

Describe the intrinsic pathway

A
  • initiated by platelets releasing Hageman factor (factors XII)
  • Cascade to factor XI -> IX -> VIII -> X
  • calcium required
53
Q

What processes prevent inappropriate clotting?

A
  • platelet repulsion
  • thrombin dilution
  • natural anticoagulants
  • blood clot dissolution
54
Q

Describe platelet repulsion

A
  • platelets don’t adhere to prostacyclin-coating
55
Q

Describe natural anticoagulants

A
  • heparine (from basophils & mast cells) interferes with formation of prothrombin activators
  • antithrombin (from liver) deactivates thrombin before it can act on fibrinogen
56
Q

Describe Blood Clot Dissolution

A
  • fibrinolysis = dissolution of a clot
  • factor XII speeds up the formation of kallikrein enzyme
  • kallikrein converts plasminogen into plasmin, a fibrin-dissolving enzyme that breaks up the clot

Anatomy & Physiology (15 decks)

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