Unit 7 Flashcards
what are the following characteristics of blood:
Colour
pH
Volume in human body
Colour:
Oxygen rich = Bright scarlet red
Oxygen poor = Dark red
pH: 7.35-7.45
Volume:
Men: 5 - 6 litres of which approx. 47% is cells
Women: 4 - 5 litres of which approx. 42% is cells
What is the structure of blood (two compartments)
Cellular: More correctly called “formed elements” (erythrocytes/RBC, leukocytes/WBC, platelets)
Intercellular fluid: A liquid called PLASMA.
What are the characteristics of plasma?
colour
percentage of blood volume
composition
- clear, straw-coloured liquid
- about 55% of the total blood volume
- least dense component of blood
- 90% water
- contains many other essential components dissolved in the water:
Plasma proteins: 8%
Other solutes: 2%
what are the 3 categories of plasma proteins?
- Albumins
- Globulins – α , β and γ
- Fibrinogen
All plasma proteins are manufactured by the Liver, EXCEPT the γ- Globulins (also called immunoglobulins)
What is the role of albumins?
- Most abundant plasma protein (60%)
- Exerts osmotic pressure to maintain water balance between blood and tissues
- Acts as a carrier to shuttle molecules through circulation
- Blood buffer
What is the role of globulins?
- 36% of plasma proteins (alpha, beta and gamma)
- Alpha and beta: transport proteins that bind to lipids, metal ions and fat-soluble vitamins
- Gamma: antibodies released primarily by plasma cells during immune response
role of fibrinogen
• 4% of plasma proteins (clotting proteins)
structure and function of erythrocytes (RBCs)
- the most abundant blood cells
- contains haemoglobin
Function: transport oxygen and carbon dioxide via Hb
Structure:
• anucleate
• are about 6- 7.5 µm in diameter
• formed from stem cells in the red bone marrow
• Life span: 120 days
• Biconcave disc
what are the advantages of biconcave discs?
- Surface area:volume ratio is greater than from ball shape allowing enhanced diffusion
- Flexibility: Allows the cell to move through parts of the circulatory system which are too small. The cells can fold in half and squeeze through narrow capillaries.
- Minimal tension on the membrane when volume changes occur between oxygenated and venous blood.
structure and function of platelets/thrombocytes
- Colourless cell fragments formed from large cells (megakaryocytes = 60µm).
- 1 ml of blood contains 250 million platelets.
- 2 - 4 µm in diameter.
- Normally live for 5 - 10 days.
- Important during blood clotting
Structure and function of haemoglobin
- Inorganic component = Haem = Fe2+ (oxygen binds to haem = oxyhemoglobin)
- Organic component = Globin = Protein (carbon dioxide binds to globin = carboaminohemoglobin)
- Transports oxygen and carbon dioxide
what are the 2 types of Hb and what is their affinity to oxygen?
Adult (Hb A) contains > 2 alpha (α) and 2 beta (β) > low affinity to oxygen
Foetus (Hb F) contains > 2 alpha (α) and 2 gamma (γ) > high affinity to oxygen
what is Sickle cell anaemia?
- Defect in beta chain.
- Hbs becomes sickled when deoxygenated, interaction between molecules result in shape deformity and obstruction of blood flow
what is Thalassemias?
- results from absent or defective synthesis of either the alpha or the beta chains of the haemoglobin.
- Blood cells containing these abnormal forms of Haemoglobin have a short life span as they are quickly destroyed.
- This can lead to anaemia.
PORPHYRIA.
collective term for several clinical disorders affecting the synthesis of haem
function and overview of WBCs
- Protection against infection and cancer
- Less than 1% of total blood volume
- Can move out of bloodstream unlike RBCs
- Almost all the leukocytes are formed from stem cells in the red bone marrow.
what are the 5 types of WBCs?
- Neutrophils
- Basophils
- Eosinophils
- Monocytes
- Lymphocytes
Structure and function of Neutrophils
Structure:
Multilobed nucleus
Red and blue granules
10-12mm
Function:
Phagocytise bacteria
Structure and function of Basophils
Structure:
Bilobed nucleus
purplish-black/ blue granules
10-14mm
Function:
• Release histamines and other mediators of inflammation
• Contain heparin (anticoagulant)
Structure and function of Eosinophils
Structure:
Bilobed nucleus
Red granules
10-14mm
Function:
• Contain enzymes
• Kill parasitic worms that are too large to be phagocytized
• Complex role in allergy and asthma
Structure and function of Monocytes
Structure: Largest of all single horseshoe shaped nucleus grey blue cytoplasm 14-24mm
Function:
• When monocytes leave the blood stream they differentiate into macrophages in the tissues
• Crucial in defence against viruses
Structure and function of Lymphocytes
Structure:
Spherical or indented nucleus that takes up most of cell
pale blue very little cytoplasm
5-17mm
Function:
• Mount immune response by direct cell attack of via antibodies
• Lymphocytes undergo further development and cell division in tissues outside the bone marrow
what is the role of macrophages?
- Macrophages have greater appetite and large numbers of lysosomes.
- They phagocytose infectious microorganisms.
- Some of the macrophages are freely moving in the tissues while some are fixed.
where are fixed macrophages located?
- Alveolar macrophages in lungs
- Osteoclasts in bone
- Sinus histiocytes in spleen and lymph nodes
- Kupffer cells in liver
- Microglia in Central Nervous System
what are the 3 main functions of blood?
- Transportation
- Regulation
- Protection
how is oxygen transported by blood?
- O2 transported from lungs to tissues usually by Hb in RBCs
* A small amount is carried in the plasma
How is CO2 transported by blood?
- Converted into bicarbonate within RBCs and mostly carried this way
- Carbonic anhydrase (enzyme) catalyses the conversion
- Some CO2 carried combined with Hb and some dissolved in plasma
- Carried from tissues to lungs
How are nutrients transported by blood?
- They are absorbed into the blood flowing through the capillaries which are present in the villi of the small intestine.
- Some nutrients are transported dissolved in the plasma, e.g. glucose, others are transported bound to carriers (plasma proteins).
- Albumins and Globulins are important in the transport of fatty acid and lipids in the blood.
how is heat transported by blood?
- Body heat transported from warm core to cooler extremities.
- Heat is carried by the plasma as water has a great capacity for “holding” heat.