Whole blood

Question 1

Outline the composition of blood?

Answer 1

55% blood plasma: Water, ions, organic molecules, trace elements and vitamins and gasses.

45% Formed elements: RBC, WBC, platelets

Question 2

What are the functions of blood?

Answer 2

Respiration
Nutrition
Clearance of waste
Thermohomeostasis
Communication
Buffer
Protection
Maintains intra/extracellular waste distribution

Question 3

What factors influence blood volume?

Answer 3

Age
 Sex
 Weight
 Temperature
 Pregnancy
 Exercise
 Posture
 Altitude
 Stress

Question 4

Define heamatocrit. What effects heamatocrit levels.

Answer 4

Percentage of total blood volume occupied by RBCs. (RBC/Total blood).100

Sex
Altitude
Anemia
Polycythemia
Dehydration

Question 5

What makes Erythrocytes sediment ?

Answer 5

They have a higher relative density than blood plasma.

Question 6

Define ESR

Answer 6

The rate at which cells sediment when a sample of fresh blood, containing an anticoagulant
(heparin or sodium oxalate) is allowed to stand

Question 7

Normal ranges of ESR:

Answer 7

Males: 3-6 mm/h
Females: 8-12 mm/h

Question 8

What does and increased ESR indicate?

Answer 8

Increase plasma protein concentration,
Infection, tuberculosis, arthritis, fever

Question 9

What does a decreased ESR indicate?

Answer 9

Polycythemia, Allergies, sickle cell, hyperglycemia

Question 10

What effects ESR ?

Answer 10

Rouleaux formation
Number of erythrocytes
Anaemia

Question 11

What is Rouleaux formation?

Answer 11

The linking of red blood cells into chains. Degree of Rouleaux formation is one of the major determinants in ESR.

Question 12

List the effectors of Rouleaux formation?

Answer 12

Albumin stops

Acute phase reactants and Immunoglobulins induce