Lecture 13: Composition and General Function of Blood

Question 1

What are the 3 general functions of blood?

Answer 1

• Transport
• Immune response
• Coagulation

Question 2

What are examples of things transported by blood?

5

Answer 2

• Nutrients
• Waste products
• Heat
• Hormones
• Immune cell/coagulation factors

Question 3

How is blood used for immune response?

Answer 3

Fighting infection and production of the immune response

Question 4

What type of cell is the immune response largely coordinated by?

Answer 4

White blood cells

Question 5

Why is blood needed for coagulation?

Answer 5

To prevent bleeding

Question 6

How does blood help to prevent bleeding?

Answer 6

Via platelets and coagulation factors in plasma

Question 7

What makes up the majority of plasma?

Answer 7

Water

Question 8

What components make up plasma?

3

Answer 8

• Proteins
• Other solutes
• Water

Question 9

What is the role of Albumins in plasma?

Answer 9

Maintain osmotic pressure

Question 10

What is the role of Globulins in plasma?

Answer 10

Immune response

Question 11

What is the role of Fibrinogen in plasma?

Answer 11

Coagulation factor

Question 12

What is the role of enzymes and hormones in plasma?

Answer 12

Lots of functions; varies by person

Question 13

What are the 3 main formed elements of blood?

Answer 13

• Platelets
• White blood cells
• Red blood cells

Question 14

What is the role of platelets in blood?

Answer 14

Cell fragments that participate in clotting to stop bleeding

Question 15

What is the role of white blood cells in blood?

Answer 15

Immune response and defence mechanisms; these seek and destroy invading pathogens

Question 16

What is the role of red blood cells?

Answer 16

Highly specialised to transport oxygen, most common cell found in blood

Question 17

What is Hematopoiesis?

Answer 17

The formation of blood cells

Question 18

Where is Hematopoiesis initiated?

Answer 18

In red bone marrow, which contains hemocytoblasts

Question 19

What are Hemocytoblasts?

Answer 19

The progenitors for all blood cells

Question 20

What does Erythropoietin (EPO) do?

Answer 20

Stimulates myeloid stem cells to form towards red blood cells (Erythropoiesis)

Question 21

What is the shape of red blood cells?

Answer 21

Biconcave discs

Question 22

What are 3 features of red blood cells because of a biconcave disc shape?

Answer 22

• Large surface area:volume ratio
• Allows for efficient diffusion of gases
• Flexibility for movement through narrow capillaries

Question 23

What makes up approximately 1/3 of the weight in RBC’s?

Answer 23

Hemoglobin

Question 24

What does Haemoglobin use as a part of the heme structure to bind oxygen?

Answer 24

Iron

Question 25

How many oxygen molecules can haemoglobin bind too?

Answer 25

4 molecules, 1 molecule per heme

Question 26

What is the fraction of blood occupied by the red cells called?

Answer 26

Haematocrit or packed cell volume (PCV)

Question 27

What is the fraction of blood occupied by the white blood cells and platelets called?

Answer 27

Buffy coat

Question 28

What is it called when the fraction of red blood cells is too low in a centrifuged blood sample?

Answer 28

Anemic

Question 29

What is it called when the fraction of red blood cells is too high in a centrifuged blood sample?

Answer 29

Polycythemic

Question 30

What is red blood cell production stimulated by?

Answer 30

Erythropoietin (EPO)

Question 31

Where is EPO produced?

Answer 31

The kidneys

Question 32

What is a decrease in oxygen delivery sensed by?

Answer 32

The kidneys

Question 33

As a response to low oxygen delivery what do the kidneys do?

Answer 33

Release EPO

Question 34

Where does EPO make its way too, to stimulate red blood cell production?

Answer 34

Red bone marrow

Question 35

What is Erythropoiesis augmented by?

Answer 35

Testosterone

Question 36

What is the normal Haematocrit or PCV for men?

Answer 36

0.4 - 0.54

Question 37

What is the normal Haematocrit or PCV for women?

Answer 37

0.37 - 0.47