Physiology Flashcards

1
Q

What is the liquid that contains blood cells called?

A

Plasma

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2
Q

What are the three broad types of blood cells?

A

Red blood cells
White blood cells
Platelets

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3
Q

What is the term used for the production of blood cells?

A

Haemopoiesis (haematopoiesis)

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4
Q

What is the main site of haemopoiesis in humans?

A

Bone marrow

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5
Q

What is the main site of haemopoiesis in fetuses between months 3-7?

A

Spleen

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6
Q

From which cell are all blood cells derived?

A

Haematopoietic stem cell

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7
Q

There are few stem cells with an unremarkable morphology. True/false?

A

True

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8
Q

As blood cells progressively mature, they get bigger/smaller

A

Smaller

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9
Q

From which cells do platelets form?

A

Megakaryocytes

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10
Q

What are the main types of white blood cell?

A
Monocytes
Lymphocytes
Basophils
Eosinophils
Neutrophils
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11
Q

Eosinophils, basophils and neutrophils are all what type of white blood cell?

A

Granulocytes

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12
Q

What is the role of neutrophils?

A

To phagocytose invaders by killing with granule contents

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13
Q

Give some roles of eosinophils

A

Fight parasitic infections

Hypersensitivity

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14
Q

Basophils are thought to mediate which type of reaction?

A

Hypersensitivity

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15
Q

What causes a monocyte to become a macrophage?

A

When it leaves circulation and enters tissue

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16
Q

Why does a monocyte have a big nucleus?

A

To allow it to live for a long time in circulation

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17
Q

What are the two main types of lymphocyte?

A

Mature

Activated

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18
Q

Describe the structure of a mature lymphocyte

A

Small with condensed nucleus and rim of cytoplasm

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19
Q

Describe the structure of an activated (atypical) lymphocyte

A

Large with plentiful blue cytoplasm

20
Q

What does the presence of activated lymphocytes suggest?

A

Intercurrent (often viral) infection

21
Q

What techniques can be used to recognise blood cell precursors?

A

Immunophenotyping

Bio-assays

22
Q

What is the main site used for bone marrow aspiration and biopsy?

A

Posterior iliac crests

23
Q

Red blood cells contain a nucleus and a mitochondria. True/false?

A

False - contain neither

24
Q

Adult haemoglobin contains what types of chains?

A

2 x alpha chains

2 x beta chains

25
Q

How many heme groups bind to each chain in haemoglobin?

A

1 binds to each chain

26
Q

Why is it important the iron found in heme is kept in the Fe2+ state?

A

As it allows an oxygen molecule to bind to it

27
Q

Give some functions of haemoglobin

A

Deliver oxygen to the tissues
Acts as a buffer for hydrogen ions
Involved in CO2 transport

28
Q

What is the main site of red cell destruction? What cell is responsible?

A

Spleen

Macrophages

29
Q

The globin chains in red blood cells are broken down to what?

A

Amino acids

30
Q

Outline the pathway for heme breakdown to bilirubin

A

Iron is recycled causing heme to become porphyrin
Porphyrin converted into biliverdin
Biliverdin converted into bilirubin

31
Q

What happens to bilirubin?

A

Taken to liver and conjugated before being excreted in bile

32
Q

What hormone regulates the production of red cells?

A

Erythropoietin (Epo)

33
Q

What stimulates production of epo?

A

Hypoxia being sensed by the kidneys

34
Q

How does a red cell produce energy?

A

Glycolysis (produces 2 ATP)

35
Q

How does a red cell prevent Fe2+ being oxidised to Fe3+?

A

The NADH produced in glycolysis gets reduced

36
Q

What protects red blood cells from free radicals such as hydrogen peroxide?

A

Glutathione (GSH)

37
Q

How does glutathione work?

A

It reacts with hydrogen peroxide to form water and GSSG

38
Q

Glutathione is replenished by what?

A

NADPH

39
Q

What is the rate limiting enzyme in the production of NADPH?

A

G6PD

40
Q

Give the different ways in which CO2 gets from the tissues to the lungs

A

60% as bicarbonate
30% bound directly to Hb
10% dissolved in solution

41
Q

In the carbonic anhydrase reaction, what acts as a buffer for the hydrogen ions produced?

A

Haemoglobin

42
Q

What globin chains are found in fetal haemoglobin?

A

2 x alpha chains

2 x gamma chains

43
Q

An oxygen binding to a heme subunit makes it easier/harder for another oxygen molecule to bind to another subunit

A

Easier

44
Q

At typical venous pO2 concentration, what is the percentage of haemoglobin saturation?

A

70%

45
Q

Fetal haemoglobin saturates less/more than adult haemoglobin at the same pO2

A

More

46
Q

Shifting the oxygen saturation curve to the right will cause more oxygen to be delivered to tissues. True/false?

A

True

47
Q

What causes the oxygen saturation curve to shift right?

A

Increased acidity
Increased DPG
Increased temperature