Introduction to blood Flashcards
What are the functions of blood?
Carriage of physically active compounds
Clotting
Defence
Gas transport
Thermoregulation
Maintenance of ECF pH
How much of the blood is plasma?
50%
How much of the plasma is water>
95%
What can be said about the quantity of biologically active compounds within the blood?
Kept at a relatively constant level
What are the three categories of plasma protein?
Albumin
Globin
Fibrinogen and other clotting factors
What is albumin used for?
Transport of steroids and lipids - it is the most abundant plasma protein
What is Globulin used for?
Alpha and beta globulin have the same function as albumin
Gamma globulin acts like anti-bodies
What can be said about the volume and the concentration of the fluid in the plasma?
Concentration stays the same since water passes into the plasma, but therefore volume changes
What is Oncotic pressure/ colloidosmotic pressure?
Osmotic pressure exerted by proteins in the vessel lumen, usually pulls water into the circulation
What is meant by hyrdostatic pressure and which direction of fluid movement does it favour?
Favours the movement of water from the capillary to the interstitial fluid (hyrdostatic pressure is greater in the capillary)
It is defined as the pressure created by fluid due to the force of gravity - increases with depth
What is hypoproteinaemia?
Abnormally low levels of protein circulating in the plasma
What causes hypoproteinaemia?
Prolonged starvation - breakdown of plasma proteins
Liver failure - reduced synthesis
Kidney disease - sieve holes are bigger
Intestinal disease - reduces the amino acids used for synthesis
What are the two classifications of blood cells?
Myeloid, lymphoid
Where do all myeloid cells come from?
Undifferentiated stem cells -> Differentiated progenitor cells -> Myeloid cells
How long does it take a reticulocyte to form a rbc (both found in the circulation)
24 hours
Where do you find all immature blood cells?
Bone marrow
What colour does the red blood cell (most abundant type of blood cell) adopt when the haemoglobin binds to oxygen?
Bright red
What is the life span of a red blood cell?
120 days