Lecture 11 !!!

Question 1

What are the components of blood plasma?

Answer 1

• water 90% of plasma is water
• electrolytes
• nutrients
• wastes
• hormones
• plasma proteins= actual function

Question 2

What are the proteins in blood plasma?

Answer 2

• albumins
• globulins (alpha, beta and gamma)
• fibrinogen

Question 3

What is the function of albumins in the blood plasma?

Answer 3

• most abundant plasma protein

- bind many substances for transport through the plasma and contribute most to the colloid osmotic pressure

Question 4

What is the function of fibrinogen in the blood plasma?

Answer 4

key factor in the blood clotting process

Question 5

What is the function of globulins in the blood plasma?

Answer 5

• transporters- specific alpha and beta globulins bind and transport substances in the plasma
• clotting agents- many of the factors involved in blood clotting are alpha or beta globulins
• inactivators- inactive proteins that are precursors of hormones and need to be activated by a signal are alpha globulins
• immune effectors- gamma globulins are the immunoglobulins(antibodies) which are crucial in defense mechanism

Question 6

What is the shape and internal structure of the red blood cells?

Answer 6

biconcave disk= bigger surface to volume area= can carry more oxygen
-no nucleus

Question 7

What do red blood cells transport?

Answer 7

heamoglobin= which carries oxygen
CO2
H+
NO
also act as a buffer against changes in pH due to carbonic anyhydrase 
-buffer

Question 8

Where are red blood cells broken down?

Answer 8

in the spleen/ liver

-spleen is also the reservoir of red blood cells for when they’re needed in exercise etc

Question 9

How long is a red blood cell’s life and why?

Answer 9

-quite short varies across species 25-160 days

Question 10

Where are blood cells made?

Answer 10

• bone marrow
• has pluripotent cells that divide and produce blood cells
• in red blood cells get rid of intracell