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PoM > plasma > Flashcards

plasma Flashcards

1
Q

what are the 4 main fluid compartments and what percentage do they make up?

A

intracellular (55%)

(extracellular)
interstitial fluid (36%)

plasma (7%)

transcellular fluid (2%)

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2
Q

describe interstitial fluid’s role.

A

found between cells

carries oxygen and nutrients to cells

acts as a vehicle for the removal of cellular waste products

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3
Q

what is the relationship between interstitial fluid and lymph?

A

interstitial fluid is drained from the tissues by lymphatic vessels

known as lymph when collected by these vessels

lymph drains to secondary lymphoid organs (e.g lymph nodes) and is a component of adaptive immune response

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4
Q

what is plasma?

A

liquid component of blood

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5
Q

how does plasma’s composition differ from that of interstitial fluid?

A

very similar

plasma contains much more protein

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6
Q

give 2 examples of transcellular fluid.

A

ocular fluids

cerebrospinal fluid

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7
Q

describe the composition of blood.

A

plasma (55%)

red cells (45%)

buffy coat (leukocytes and platelets) (<1%)

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8
Q

what is apherisis and why is it useful?

A

technique in which a donor’s blood is collected and centrifuged to separate a specific component

remaining components returned to the donor

therefore different cell fractions can be purified for further use

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9
Q

what is serum?

A

not the same as plasma

generated by letting blood clot for several minutes

this depletes the plasma of coagulation factors and traps cells and platelets within the clot

produces serum

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10
Q

why are plasma and serum useful in diagnostics?

A

easy to obtain clinical specimen

elevated levels of some molecules can provide biomarkers of disease

e.g unique proteins secreted by cells or released during cell death

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11
Q

what are the respective advantages of serum and plasma in diagnostics?

A

plasma - quicker to prepare

serum - generates cleaner sample (fewer cells)

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12
Q

what percentage of plasma is made up by proteins?

A

7%

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13
Q

how can the proteins in plasma be assayed?

A

electrophoresis

serum albumin (most abundant, therefore the largest peak) - closest to the cathode

subsequent components are globulins (closest to furthest from cathode)

  • alpha 1
  • alpha 2
  • beta 1
  • beta 2
  • gamma
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14
Q

what are the 2 major types of protein in plasma?

A

serum albumin

globulins

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15
Q

what percentage of the total plasma proteins is made up by serum albumin?

A

55%

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16
Q

where is serum albumin produced?

A

liver

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17
Q

what are the key functions of serum albumin?

A

transport of lipids

transport of hormones

transport of ions

maintain osmotic pressure of plasma

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18
Q

what is the role of serum albumin specifically in relation to transport of lipids?

A

lipolysis from breakdown of triglycerides in adipose tissue produces fatty acids

albumin transports fatty acids around the body for use by other tissue in β-oxidation

19
Q

what percentage of the total plasma proteins is made up by globulins?

A

35%

divided into 3 groups

20
Q

what protein are serum alpha 1 globulins typified by?

A

alpha 1 antitrypsin (A1AT)

21
Q

where is A1AT produced?

A

liver

22
Q

what does A1AT do?

A

inhibits proteases

23
Q

why is A1AT’s role important? give a specific example.

A

helps protect tissues from many enzymes

e. g neutrophil elastase
- released by neutrophils during inflammation
- defective/deficient A1AT can lead to degradation of lung tissue - loss of elasticity and respiratory problems

24
Q

what 2 proteins are serum alpha 2 globulins typified by?

A

haptoglobin

α2 macroglobulin

25
Q

what does haptoglobin do? why is this relevant in diagnostics?

A

binds to haemoglobin released from erythrocytes

resulting complex removed by the spleen

measuring levels of haptoglobin can help diagnose haemolytic anaemia in combination with other parameters

26
Q

what is α2 macroglobulin and what is its role?

A

broad action protease inhibitor

can inactivate fibrinolysis (breakdown of fibrin involved in blood clotting)

27
Q

give 3 examples of beta globulins.

A

complement protein C3 and C4

transferrin

28
Q

where is transferrin produced and what is its role?

A

beta globulin

generated by the liver

helps transport dietary iron and iron released from ferritin stores

29
Q

what 2 types of protein make up a large proportion of the gamma globulins?

A

immunoglobulins (antibodies)

C-reactive protein (acute phase protein)

30
Q

what can an increase of the gamma proportion of the globulins reflect?

A

increased immune system activity; can indicate infection

31
Q

why are electrolytes important even though they only make up ~1% of the plasma?

A

major contributors to osmolarity

32
Q

describe the relative concentration of Na⁺ in the plasma and in the blood cells.

A

30 times higher in the plasma than in the blood cell

33
Q

describe the relative concentration of K⁺ in the plasma and in the blood cells.

A

30 times higher in the blood cell than in the plasma

34
Q

how and why is the positive charge from intracellular K⁺ ions balanced?

A

balancing required otherwise differences in charge would tear cells apart

mainly balanced by extracellular Cl⁻ ions

many anions inside cell also neutralise high concentration of potassium inside the cell
- e.g proteins, nucleic acids, phosphorylated proteins

35
Q

describe the relative concentration of Ca²⁺ in the plasma and in the blood cells.

A

several thousand times higher in the plasma than in the blood cell

36
Q

what can an increase in intracellular calcium be associated with and what can it be due to?

A

associated with signalling events

due to either:

  • opening calcium channels allowing influx from the exterior
  • release of intracellular stores
37
Q

why is intracellular magnesium important?

A

important co factor for many enzymes

38
Q

what are the 5 key ions found in plasma and in blood cells?

A

K⁺

Na⁺

Ca²⁺

Mg²⁺

Cl⁻

39
Q

how is the electrolyte gradient between the inside and outside of the cell maintained?

A

active transport of ions

notably by protein pumps such as Na⁺-K⁺ pumps (also known as Na⁺-K⁺ ATPase)

40
Q

why are Na⁺-K⁺ pumps also known as Na⁺-K⁺ ATPase?

A

hydrolysis of ATP is needed to provide energy for transportation

41
Q

what is the ratio between Na⁺ ions actively transported out of the cell by Na⁺-K⁺ pumps and K⁺ ions that move into the cell?

A

3:2

3 Na⁺ pumped out, 2 K⁺ enter

42
Q

why is the maintenance of the Na⁺-K⁺ gradient across the plasma membrane important?

A

important for function of electrically excitable cells
e.g muscle fibres, neurones

maintenance of cell volume

43
Q

how can you tell that the active transport of Na⁺ and K⁺ is significantly important, referring to the resources it uses?

A

more than a third of ATP consumed during rest is to power the Na⁺-K⁺ pumps

44
Q

when ATP levels are depleted, what happens to the shape of the cell and why, referring to the movement of ions?

A

inward movement of Na⁺ and water

cells become more spherical

PoM (42 decks)

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