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Pathology 1 > Structure & Function of Blood > Flashcards

Structure & Function of Blood Flashcards

1
Q

What is blood composed of?

A

Plasma (fluid) and Cells

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2
Q

What are the 2 major types of leukocytes?

A
  • lymphocytes
  • neutrophils

WBCs are described as being polymorphonuclear (lymphocytes) and/or
granulocytes (neutrophils)

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3
Q

How are granulocytes named?

A

Granulocytes take the name of the dye they affiliat ebest with. The dye used to stain them are basic dyes with an acidic dye called eosin so
Basophil - high affinity fo rbasic dye
Eosinophil - high affinity for eosin (acidic)
Neutrophil - stains weakly with both

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4
Q

Which cells contribute to the composition of blood?

A

White blood cells (WBCs)
Red Blood Cells (RBCs)
Platelets

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5
Q

How do erythrocytes aid CO₂ removal from tissues via blood?

A

Most CO₂ carried out of tissues is dissolved in plasma as bicarbonate via a reaction with water
Carbonic anhydrase (RBC enzyme) helps CO₂:
1. Dissolve in plasma in tissues
2. Undissolve from solution in lungs

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6
Q

What is deoxyhaemoglobin?

A

Unsaturated haemoglobin (lost all O₂) - dark red colour

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7
Q

How does blood separate when centrifuged?

A

Red cells centrifuge to the bottom
White cells form a thin brown layer on top of red cells (Buffy coat)
Plasma centrifuges at top; has a straw colour

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8
Q

How do Neutrophils provide immunity?

A

Neutrophils:

  • Phagocytose , killing bacteria and fungi
  • main mediators of innate immunity (recognise foreign pathogens)
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9
Q

What does polymorphonuclear mean?

A

Irregular multi lobed nucleus

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10
Q

How can we use a microscope to observe blood cells?

A

Smear blood on a microscope slide

Stain blood as WBC are colourless

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11
Q

Describe a neutrophil

A

Can be both polymorphs or granulocytes

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12
Q

What are the types of agranulocytes?

A

Monocytes - biggest WBcs with lobed kidney shape nucleus

Lymphocytes - vary in size; normally have small room of cytoplasm

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13
Q

What are platelets?

A

Cytoplasmic fragments generated from large cells in bone marrow

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14
Q

What are granulocytes?

A

Prominent cytoplasmic granules of which there are 3 types:

  • Neutrophils
  • Eosinophil
  • Basophils
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15
Q

What is the scientific name of RBCs?

A

Erythrocytes

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16
Q

What is the scientific name given to platelets?

A

Thrombocytes

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17
Q

What are mononuclear (agranulocytes) cells?

A

Large regular nuclei lacking granules

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18
Q

Describe the structure of platelets

A
  • No nucleus
  • Membrane bound
  • Contain granules which are released during clotting
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19
Q

Describe the structure of RBCs

A
  • Biconcave discs
  • No nucleus and no RNA/DNA or mt (RNA only present in
    early erythrocytes)
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20
Q

How are erythrocytes adapted to aid O₂ transport?

A

A major constituent of RBC is Haemoglobin protein

- carries O₂ from lungs

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21
Q

Why are RBCs technically not cells?

A

Don’t contain nucleus so red corpuscle is a more accurate term

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22
Q

How can stem cells be used to treat certain blood diseases?

A

By bone marrow transplantation (BMT)

Only used in life threatening situations as it is a very strenuous process

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23
Q

How are blood cells formed?

A

Mature blood cells are produced from stem cells in the bone marrow
- bone marrow contains many immature cells

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24
Q

How do RBCs generate energy?

A

They are metabolically active and generate energy via glycolysis

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25
Q

Which anions are present in plasma?

A

Mainly Cl-

bicarbonate, Phosphate , sulphate and other organic anions present

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26
Q

How do erythrocytes aid transport?

A

Erythrocytes transport O₂ from the lungs to the rest of the body
Aid removal of CO₂ from tissues back to lungs

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27
Q

What is blood plasma?

A

The fluid component of whole blood

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28
Q

What is the function of the globin chains in haemoglobin?

A

Each globin chain carries a haem molecule

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29
Q

How ar esubstances transported from the blood into cells?

A

Many substances have specialised carriers e.g.

  • Thyroxine binding globulin (TBG)
  • Transferrin (main ion transporting protein)
30
Q

What is the scientific name of WBCs?

A

Leukocytes

31
Q

How do plasma proteins avoid the toxicity of metal ions?

A

By binding ions tightly to protein makes it harder for bacteria to metabolise & use the ions

32
Q

What is oxyhaemoglobin?

A

haemoglobin fully saturated with O₂ - bright red colour

33
Q

What is the role of albumin plasma protein?

A

Albumin acts as a general purpose carrier

34
Q

How is blood used for transport?

A

Blood carries O₂ and nutrients to tissues
Removes CO₂ / waste products from tissues
Transports substances (e.g. hormones) from production site –> action site

35
Q

What are bone marrow stem cells?

A

Very immature cells without lobes

They aren’t toitpotent but give rise to any blood cell lineages (pluripotent)

36
Q

What are the functions of blood?

A
  • Transport
  • Defence
  • Homeostasis
37
Q

What is blood Serum?

A

The fluid left after blood clotting has occurred

- a lot of proteins are lost after clotting so a watery residue is left

38
Q

Describe the structure of Haemoglobin

A
  • Protein tetramer made of 4 polypeptide chians
  • 2 β globin chains
  • 2 α globin chains
39
Q

What cellular defence does blood provide?

A
  • Immunity : WBC and plasma proteins
  • Clotting - (haematostasis) by platelets and plasma
    proteins
40
Q

What is the disadvantage of plasma proteins carrying metal ions?

A

metal ions carried: Mg2+, Fe2+, Cu2+, Ca2+
some of these ions are toxic
e.g. Cu2+ form free radicals
Fe2+ aid bacterial metabolism => septicemia

41
Q

What are the positive ionic constituents of plasma?

A

Mainly Na+
Cells rich in K+, extracellular rich in Na+
K+, Ca2+, Phosphate, Mg2+, and H+ also present

42
Q

What is a haem molecule?

A

Haem is a prosthetic group (not a protein)

Attaches to a protein to aid its function

43
Q

What are the contents of plasma fluid?

A 
Water 
Salts 
Proteins 
Organic molecules 
- metabolites 
- carbohydrates 
- lipids
44
Q

How do Lymphocytes aid immunity?

A

Lymphocytes:

  • main mediators of adaptive immunity
  • produce antibodies specific to infection
  • kill virus infected cells
45
Q

What substances are carried by plasma proteins?

A

Plasma proteins carry metal ions and poorly soluble substances e.g

  • dietary lipids coated with apolipoproteins -> globules
  • lipid soluble hormones and vitamins
46
Q

What is the role of Eosinophils in immunity?

A

Eosinophils:

  • kill parasites
  • involved in allergic responses
47
Q

What is the average size of an erythrocyte?

A

Diameter ~ 8 um

Thickness ~ 2 um

48
Q

Which proteins are present in the plasma?

A

There are 1000’s of different proteins present in plasma

Complex albumin protein makes up >90% of plasma protein content

49
Q

Which fluid is used during blood tests?

A

Some blood tests require unclotted blood (plasma) - use antcoagulant
e.g. EDTA

Other tests work better with serum than plasma

50
Q

What kind of substances can plasma carry?

A

The plasma can carry soluble metabolite sin solution e.g. glucose

51
Q

What is the normal Hb saturation of a healthy person?

A

Normal - 98% saturation

52
Q

How much of the plasma is composed of plasma proteins?

A

Plasma proteins make up around 7-9% of plasma in normal circumstances

53
Q

How much Haemoglobin is present in erythrocytes?

A

In each red cell there are around 300,000,000 Hb molecules

very [high] - almost 50% of space in red cell occupied by Hb

54
Q

What is the function of the Haem molecule in haemoglobin?

A

Haem holds a ferrous Fe2+ molecule
Oxygen reversibly binds to Fe2+ via weak coordinate bond
O₂ can easily attach / detach

55
Q

What is the use of pulse oximetry?

A

Measure Hb colour determining hypoxia in patients

- routinely used on post surgery patients as opiates given to relieve pain which limit breathing = higher hypoxia risk

56
Q

How is methaemaglobinemia caused?

A

If iron ion in haem gets oxidised from Fe2+ –> Fe3+ (Ferric)
O₂ can no longer bind

57
Q

How do monocytes (macrophages) aid immunity?

A

Monocytes:

- phagocytosis of dead cells and pathogens

58
Q

What is the function of basophils in immunity?

A

Basophils:

  • kill parasites
  • involved in allergic responses
  • involved in inflammation
59
Q

How is Ht calculated?

A

Ht = volume of cells / total volume

60
Q

What is Haematocrit (Ht)?

A

Volume of cells in cntrifuged blood compared to total blood volume PCV
PCV - packed cell volume

61
Q

What is the average life span of RBCs?

A

120 days

62
Q

How does blood plasma provide defence?

A

Plasma defence achieved via
Immunity:
- immunoglobulins (Ig):
made by B lymphocytes, act as antibodies against pathogens

  • Complement proteins:
    kill bacteria and other pathogens by cooperating with Igs and WBCs
    regarded as part of innate immunity
63
Q

How do complement proteins work with WBCs to kill pathogens?

A

If a complement protein can’t kill a pathogen itself it can attract WBCs to aid phagocytosis

64
Q

What is the normal total blood volume?

A 
An average (70kg male) total blood volume = 5 litres 
Plasma volume = 2.5 - 3 litres
65
Q

What is the major role of platelets?

A

Primary haemostasis

  • recongise damaged blood vessel walls
  • form platelet plugs
  • prevent/stop bleeding
66
Q

What factors are controlled for plasma homeostasis?

A

pH
[protein]
[ion]

67
Q

What is homeostasis?

A

Maintaining the internal body environment

  • pH 7.4
  • distribution of solutes + water
  • heat distribution
68
Q

How does plasma aid haemostasis?

A

There are plasma proteins available in plasma that aid haemostasis:
- Fibrinogen - forms fibrin protein to form clot

clotting factors + platelets control process
Fibrin clot reinforces primary platelet plug

69
Q

What tests can be carried out on plasma?

A

U&E’s - Urea & Electrolytes

  • checks kidney functions
  • kidney regulates electrolytes in plasma

LFTs - Liver Function Test
- checks correct no. of components in liver (albumin,
serum, clotting factors)
- liver damage causes release of liver enzymes into
plasma which is also
detected

70
Q

What is the significance of plasma analysis?

A

Analysis of plasma is an essential part of diagnosis and treatment

71
Q

Which disorders disturb plasma homeostasis?

A
  • kidney disease
  • liver disease
  • lung disease
  • cardiovascular failure
  • endocrine organs failure

Pathology 1 (20 decks)

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