The Composition of Blood (lesson 5)

Question 1

How much plasma and cellular elements do we have in the body?

Answer 1

Plasma - 55%
Cellular elements - 45%

Question 2

What are the major components?

Answer 2

Water - solvent

Ions (na+, k+, Ca2, Mg2, CI, HCO3) - pH and water balance, regulates materials passing membrane

Plasma Proteins -
i. Albumin -> Water balance and pH buffering
ii. Fibrinogen and Prothrombin -> Blood clotting
iii. Immunoglobulins (Antibodies) -> Immunity

Question 3

Types of cellular elements

Answer 3

Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells)

Leukocytes (White Blood Cells)

Platelets (Thrombocytes)

Question 4

Describe blood plasma?

Answer 4

Plasma is clear and is a light yellow (straw) colour

Question 5

What does blood plasma contain?

Answer 5

-90% of water

-Dissolved enzymes, hormones and gases

• AA, fatty acids and sugars

Question 6

What does red blood cells (erythrocytes) contain?

Answer 6

-O2 carrying compound hemoglobin

-No nucleus when they are mature , b/c room for hemoglobin

Question 7

Whats the red blood cells (erythrocytes) lifespan?

Answer 7

120 days after they are broken down in liver and spleen

Question 8

Where are red blood cells (erythrocytes) produced and describe shape?

Answer 8

Produced in the red bone marrow

Biconcave discs (a dent in the middle)

Question 9

Where are white blood cells (leucocytes) produced?

Answer 9

Produced in the bone marrow and the lymph nodes

Question 10

Whats the lifespan of white blood cells (leucocytes)?

Answer 10

Can last years

Question 11

What do white blood cells (leucocytes) contain and are capable of?

Answer 11

They contain nuclei

Capable of reproducing themselves and their own movement

Question 12

Describe platelets (thrombocytes)?

Answer 12

Tiny bits of cytoplasm pitched off bone marrow cells

Question 13

What do platelets (thrombocytes) not have?

Answer 13

No nucleus or organelles

Question 14

What do thromboplastin contain?

Answer 14

Contains enzyme called thromboplastin

Question 15

What is blood clotting?

Answer 15

When a blood vessel is damaged meaning blood can leak out and blood clotting happens to prevent that

Question 16

What are the steps of blood clotting?

Answer 16

1) Platelets attach to the connective tissue and release chemicals to make other platelets stick

2) Cluster of platelets now form a temporary plug

3) On larger injuries, platelets release enzyme (Thromboplastin), reacts with calcium to activate protein Prothrombin which turn into Thrombin

4) Thrombin turns into Fibrinogen into thread like protein called Fibrin

5) Fibrin traps blood cells and contracts while it dries to form a scab (“plug”)

*Body heals the wound by scabbing, when fallen its healed