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Lecture 2 - Introduction to structure and function of blood Flashcards

1
Q

RBCs (6)

A 
Erythrocytes
Biconcave discs
No nucleus, no DNA
Life span - 120 days
Diameter - 8 um
Thickness - 2um
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2
Q

Erythema

A

Reddening of the skin

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3
Q

Where do blood cells come from? (3)

A
  • Mature blood cells are produced from stem cells in the bone marrow.
  • Bone marrow contains many immature cells.
  • Some blood diseases can be treated by bone marrow transplantation.
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4
Q

Plasma (7)

A 
•	Fluid containing
o	Water
o	Salts
o	Proteins
o	Organic molecules
	Metabolites
	Carbohydrates
	Lipids
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5
Q

Plasma - Ionic constituents (2)

A

• Positive ions (cations)
Sodium (Na+) / Potassium (K+) / Calcium (Ca2+) / Magnesium (Mg2+) / Hydrogen ions (H+).

• Negative ions (anions)
Chloride (Cl-) / Bicarbonate (HCO3-) / Phosphate (PO43-) / Sulphate (SO42-) / Organic anions.

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6
Q

Plasma and serum (4)

A

• Plasma is the fluid component of whole blood.
• Serum is the fluid left after blood clotting.
• Some blood tests require unclotted blood. Use anticoagulant e.g. EDTA - Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (C10H16N2O8).
• Other tests work better with serum than plasma.
• Purple top – EDTA anticoagulant to stop the blood from clotting.
• Red top – uncoagulated blood.
•

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7
Q

Plasma proteins (4)

A
  • Normal: 7-9% of plasma is protein.
  • Complex- thousands of different proteins.
  • But > 90% is a single protein: albumin.
  • Human serum albumin is the serum albumin found in human blood. It is the most abundant protein in human blood plasma; itconstitutes about half of serum protein. It is produced in the liver.
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8
Q

Functions of blood (3)

A

Transport
• Carry oxygen / nutrients to tissues
• Remove CO2 / other waste products from tissues
• Transport other substances (e.g. hormones) from sites of production  sites of action
Defence
Homeostasis
• Keeping the internal environment of the body constant.

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9
Q

Functions of blood - Transport (6,4)

A

O2 from lungs to body tissues.
Removal of CO2 from body tissues to lungs.
Most CO2 carried as bicarbonate in the plasma.
Carbonic anhydrase - dissolve in plasma in the tissues - come out of solution in the lungs - in RBCs high level of enzyme.
CO2 + H20 –> H2CO3 –> H+ + HCO3-.
Part 3 the -ve charged HCO3- leaves RBC and enters the cytoplasma via diffusion, Cl- ions enter cell (chloride shift, maintains steep concentration gradient. CO3 from respiring tissues to RBCs.
Once next to lungs, low conc of CO2 so reaction is reversed.

Plama carries metabolies in solution.
Carries substances poorly soluble in H20 (lipids, HDL/LDLS/ Metal ions).
If blood is infected with bacteria - SEPTICEMIA. Bacterium uses iron to grow. So, iron is kept tightly bound to a plasma protein (transferrin - plasma glycoprotein). If a cell wants iron is has to bind to a transferrin receptor.
Specialised carrier –> TBG (Thyroxin binding globin).

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10
Q

Haemoglobin (6)

A

Protein Hb
Hb binds oxygen and carries it from lungs to tissues.
Tetramer, 4 polypeptide chains - 2a/b globin chains.
Each globin chain has a haem molecule, prosthetic Fe2+ group.
Oxygen binds reversibly to Fe via a coordination bond this process is oxygenation, NOT OXIDATION.
Around 3(8 0s) Hb in each RBC.

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11
Q

Pulse oximeter (3)

A

Measures colour of haemoglobin.
Determines is patient is hypoxic (deprived of O2).

When opioid drug used, it supresses breathing reflex so patient may become hypoxic so pulse oximeter is used to check. That’s why after an operation, a patient on morphine is constantly monitored.

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12
Q

Erythrocyte - Transport (5)

A

Plasma carries soluble metabolites in solution.
Plasma proteins carry substances which are poorly soluble in water e.g. lipids.
Plasma proteins may carry metal ions (can be toxic).
When blood becomes infected with bacteria called septicemia. so bacterium needs iron to grow, if body keeps it tightly bound to plasma protein, it is harder for bacteria to reach this.
Transferrin binds iron to blood takes it to the tissues keeps it away from bacteria. Cells which need iron have a protein receptor which binds transferrin and takes the iron.
Specialised carrier - Thyroxine binding protein (TBP) and Transferrin.

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13
Q

Erythrocyte - Defence (2,4)

A

• Immunity
 WBC and plasma proteins
 Innate immunity- Defence mechanisms you are born with.
 Adaptive (acquired) Immunity you get after being exposed to a disease, you probably only catch it once.
• Clotting (aka haemostasis - the stopping of a flow of blood.)
 Platelets and plasma proteins

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14
Q

WBCs (4)

A 
Leukocytes
Colourless
Common types:
o	Neutrophils
o	Lymphocytes
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15
Q

Leukoplakia

A

White layer on gum. Leukoplakia is a condition in which thick, white patches form on your tongue and the lining of your mouth.

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16
Q

WBC - Granulocytes (5)

A

• Polymorphonuclear - Irregular, multi-lobed nucleus
• Granulocyte - Prominent cytoplasmic granules
• Have granules in the cytoplasm of the cell which are hard to see at a x40 magnification.
• Granules contain substances that will be released from the cell, part of the defence e.g. antibacterial agents.
• Uses a mixture of dyes
 Eosin – Eosinophil
 Basic dye – Basophils

17
Q

WBC - Granulocytes - Neutrophil (4)

A

Phagocytose and kill bacteria.
Main mediators of innate immunity.
Weakly staining granules.
Commonest WBC.

18
Q

WBC - Granulocytes - Eosophil(4)

A

Granules stain red with eosin.
1-4% of WBCs.
Kill parasites.
Involved in allergic responses.

19
Q

WBC - Granulocytes - Basophil (6)

A

Big purple granules in the cytoplasm which makes it hard to see the nucleus.
Granules stain blue/ purple with basic dyes.
<0.5% of WBCs.
Kill parasites.
Involved in allergic responses.
Involved in inflammation.

20
Q

WBC - Agranulocytes / Mononuclear cells (2)

A
  • Agranulocytes -without/lack granules.

* Large, regular nuclei

21
Q

WBC - Agranulocytes / Mononuclear cells - Monocytes/Macrophages (5)

A

Mono= one single round nucleus rather than a multi lobed nucleus.
Monocytes are the largest type of WBC.
Have a sort of kidney shaped nucleus.
Phagocytosis of dead cells and pathogens
After they have digested foreign objects they talk to innate/adaptive system to record this foreign pathogen.
Monocytes leave the blood and enter tissues they are known as macrophages.

22
Q

WBC - Agranulocytes / Mononuclear cells - Lymphocytes (5)

A

Lymphocytes nucleus is about the same as a RBC. Smaller than a monocyte.
Main mediators of adaptive (acquired) immunity.
Produce antibodies.
Kill virus infected cells.

23
Q

Platelets - thromobocytes (6)

A

• Cytoplasmic fragments
• No nucleus
• Membrane bound
• Contain granules – which have substances involved in clotting and inflammation.
• Major role: Primary Haemostasis
 Fibrinogen is a major plasma protein  Converted to Fibrin, forms blood clot  Clotting factors control process  Fibrin clot reinforces primary platelet plug.
• Platelet plug stops bleeding– but insecure & temporary.

24
Q

Platelets - Primary haemostasis overview (3)

A

o Recognise damage at blood vessel wall
o Form a platelet plug
o Prevent / stop bleeding

25
Q

Homeostasis (7)

A 
•	Keeping the internal environment of the body constant.
•	Maintaining pH (7.4)
•	Controlling distribution of water and solutes
•	Distributing heat
•	Plasma pH, ion concentrations and protein concentrations must be kept within safe limits.
•	Analysis of plasma 
•	Disturbed by disorders of:
o	Kidney 
o	Liver
o	Lungs
o	Cardiovascular system 
o	Endocrine organs
26
Q

Analysis of plasma (3)

A

Analysis of plasma = essential part of diagnosis & treatment.
 “U and Es”- urea and electrolytes  check kidney function
 “LFTs” – Liver function tests

27
Q

Blood in numbers (70kg male) (2)

A
  • Total blood volume ~ 5 litres “for a 70Kg male”
  • (70 ml.kg-1 body weight)
  • Plasma volume ~ 2.5-3 litres
28
Q

Haematocrit (4)

A

Packed cell volume = Volume of cells / Total volume.
0.4 - 0.5
Less than 0.4 anaemic
If the person is a smoker more RBCs as most RBC are inactive due to CO.

29
Q

Common blood tests - Full blood count (5)

A

• Haemoglobin concentration (Hb in g/l)
o Overall concentration of haemoglobin in the blood
o Used to diagnose anaemia
• Mean (red) cell volume (MCV)
o Size of the rbcs
• Mean (red) cell haemoglobin content (MCHC)
o How much Hb in each red cell
• Haematocrit (Ht or Hc)
• These help to diagnose the type of anaemia
• Total white blood cell count (WBC) - important for diagnosing infection
o Neutrophil count
o Lymphocyte count

30
Q

Common blood tests - Liver function tests (3)

A
  • Albumin concentration
  • Liver enzymes (released from damaged liver cells)
  • Clotting factors
31
Q

Common blood tests - Urea and electrolytes (2)

A
  • Test kidney function

* And metabolic abnormalities

32
Q

Common blood tests - Blood glucose (1)

A

Tests for diabetes mellitus

33
Q

Common blood tests - Lipid profile (3)

A

Risk of cardiovascular disease
• Triglycerides
• Cholesterol
• LDL and HDL

FoP (24 decks)

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