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Red blood cells Flashcards

1
Q

What are the cellular components of blood known as?

A

The formed elements of blood

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2
Q

What are the formed elements of blood?

A
  1. Red blood cells - erythrocytes
  2. White blood cells - leucocytes
  3. Platelets - cell fragments involved in blood clotting.
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3
Q

How much of the total blood volume do red blood cells account for?

A

Males - 45% (0.45 l of RBC’s per l of blood)
Females - ~41%

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4
Q

What is the term given for the proportion of blood made up by RBCs?

A

Haematocrit

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5
Q

How do you find out blood composition?

A

Blood sample is drawn into a glass capillary tube and then spun in a centrifuge

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6
Q

What is the approximate plasma percentage in blood?

A

55%

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7
Q

What is the approximate blood volume?

A

5 L

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8
Q

Approximately how many RBCs are in circulation?

A

25 trillion

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9
Q

What shape is the red blood cell?

A

They are flattened, bi concave discs

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10
Q

What is the function of RBCs?

A

Transport gases in the circulation -
1. Oxygen
2. Carbon Dioxide

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11
Q

What does the shape of RCS allow for?

A

Greater surface area of the cell for gas diffusion

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12
Q

What is the diameter of the RBC similar to?

A

The diameter of the smallest capillary blood vessels

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13
Q

Can RBCs go through capillary?

A

RBCs can squeeze through capillaries as they are easily deformable

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14
Q

How is Gas transport provided in RBCs?

A

Haemoglobin

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15
Q

What gives RBCs the red colour?

A

Haemoglobin

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16
Q

What are the two main parts to the haemoglobin molecule?

A
  1. Protein part -globin.
  2. Pigment part - heam (contains iron and carries oxygen)
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17
Q

What is the approximate concentration of haemoglobin in the blood?

A

150 g/L

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18
Q

Which organelles do RBCs not contain?

A

Mitochondria - therefore the obtain energy anaerobically
Nucleus - they are anucleate cells

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19
Q

Do RBCs have a short or long lifespan?

A

Short around 120 days

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20
Q

Where are RBCs destroyed?

A

The spleen, liver and bone marrow by phagocyte cells (macrophages)

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21
Q

What is the name for RBC synthesis?

A

Erythropoiesis

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22
Q

Where does erythropoiesis occur?

A

Bone marrow

In adults :

  1. Bones of the chest.
  2. Cranium.
  3. Vertebrae and pelvis.
  4. Long bones in arms and legs.
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23
Q

How is an erythrocyte produced?

A

Pluripotent Stem cell > Myeloid stem cell > Reticulocyte > Erythrocyte

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24
Q

What factors are required for normal RBC to occur?

A
  1. Iron
  2. Vitamin B9 (folic acid)
  3. Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
25
What type of control is RBC synthesis under?
Hormonal control
26
Where is Erythropoietin (EPO) found?
90% from kidneys 10% from liver
27
In what situations would there be a decrease level of oxygen?
1. Haemorrhage. 2. Decrease cardiac efficiency. 3. High altitude.
28
What does decrease level of oxygen stimulate?
The production of EPO. This then synthesises extra RBCs - increasing the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.
29
Why is EPO and blood doping in athletics dangerous?
It increases blood viscosity
30
Why is EPO and blood doping in athletics banned?
It gives an unfair advantage
31
Why did athletes use hypoxic tents?
They have low oxygen and one they step outside and train at sea level it improves their performance, it is safer and approved.
32
What happens if a stimulus disrupts homeostasis by decreasing oxygen delivery to the kidneys and other tissues?
1. Receptors - kidney cells secrete EPO detector oxygen level. Increased EPO is secreted into blood. 2. Control centre. - Proerythroblasts in Redbone marrow mature more quickly into reticulocytes. 3. Effectors - larger number of RBCs in circulation. This leads to increase oxygen delivery to tissue and it is returned to homeostasis
33
What is the ABO classification of blood types based on?
Two antigens present on red blood cells: A-Antigen B-antigen
34
Where are the antigens present on RBCs?
They are present on the surface membrane
35
What can react with these antigens?
Antibodies in the blood plasma: Anti-A Anti-B
36
Does plasma contain antibodies for the particular antigens that are present on RBCs?
No
37
What antigens and antibodies do type a blood have?
RBC - A-antigen Plasma - Anti-B antibody
38
What antigens and antibodies does type B blood have?
RBC - B antigen Plasma - Anti-A antibody
39
What antigens and antibodies do type AB blood have?
RBC - Both A and B antigens Plasma - Neither antibody
40
What antigens and antibodies do type O blood have?
RBC - No A or B antigen Plasma - Both anti-A and anti-B antibodies
41
If a person with type a blood needs a transfusion which donors cannot give their blood
Type B or type AB
42
If a subject with blood type B needed a transfusion, which types could it not receive blood from?
Type A or type AB
43
What type of transfusion can blood type AB receive?
Any type of donor because they have no antibodies to other blood types making them universal recipients
44
What blood type can type O receive transfusions from?
Type O blood. They have antibodies to type and type B blood
45
Who can receive type O blood?
Any other blood type because they have no antigens on their RBCs making them universal donors
46
How many different human blood group classifications are there?
35
47
What is Rhesus factor?
Rhesus antigens are present in human RBCs - Rhesus positive (Rhesus+) Rh+ is the most common type. Plasma does not normally contain anti-RH antibodies.
48
What can happen if a Rh negative mother and a Rh positive father have a Rhesus positive fetus?
Usually fine for the first pregnancy however for the second pregnancy, it can cause problems
49
What can happen during a subsequent pregnancy when a mother synthesises anti-RH antibodies.
1. Anti-RH antibodies can cross the placenta from mother to fetus 2. Anti-RH antibodies enter fetal circulation. 3. Reaction causes RBCs to rupture (haemolytic) potentially life-threatening. 4. Haemolytic disease of the newborn (HBN)
50
What is haemostasis?
Preventing of bleeding following injury to a blood vessel
51
What are the three series of coordinated responses to haemostasis?
1. Vascular spasm. 2. Formation of platelet plug. 3. Coagulation.
52
What happens with a vascular spasm?
1. Damage to the vessel. 2. Smooth muscle contraction. 3. Vasoconstriction- maintained by chemicals released by platelets. 4. Reduces blood flow.
53
What happens with the formation of a platelet plug?
1. Platelets coming into contact with damaged blood vessels (collagen fibre) 2. Platelets stick to damaged area. 3. Platelets release chemicals. 3A. Maintains vascular spasm. 3B. Attracts other platelets > increases stickiness of other platelets > platelets clump together > platelet plug > assist in reducing blood loss
54
What happens in coagulation?
Process of blood clotting Formation of a gel consisting of network of insoluble protein fibre is called fibrin, which catches the cellular components of blood.
55
What are the co-factors required for coagulation?
Clotting factors Vitamin K Calcium ions Liver enzymes Factors release by platelets
56
What are the two pathways for blood clotting?
Intrinsic pathway Extrinsic pathway
57
The intrinsic pathway and extrinsic pathway leads to the formation of what?
Prothrombinase Catalyses conversion of prothrombin (plasma protein) to thrombin (enzyme) Thrombin catalyses conversion of fibrinogen (plasma protein) to fibre (insoluble fibres)
58
What is the extrinsic pathway?
Tissue damage > release of tissue factor > enters blood vessels > Clotting factors and calcium ions (fast reaction) helps form prothrombinase
59
What is the intrinsic pathway?
Blood vessel damage > exposure of collagen fibres in blood vessel walls > (A) Prothrombinase (B) platelet activation > release of platelet phospholipids > prothrombinase

Human Physiology (8 decks)

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