Blood and Immunity Quiz

Study Notes

Plasma (55%):
- 91.5% water
- 7% proteins (albumin, globulins, fibrinogen)
- 1.5% other solutes (nutrients, electrolytes, gases, regulatory substances, waste products)
Formed elements (45%):
- Red blood cells (RBCs): 4.8-5.4 million per µL
- White blood cells (WBCs): 5,000-10,000 per µL (different types)
- Platelets: 150,000-400,000 per µL

Transport:
- Oxygen from lungs to tissues
- Carbon dioxide from tissues to lungs
- Nutrients from intestines to tissues and cells
- Waste products from tissues to kidneys
Regulatory:
- Regulates body temperature
- Regulates pH
- Regulates water content
- Regulates hormones and other chemicals
Protective:
- Circulates white blood cells, antibodies, antitoxins
- Produces clots to prevent excessive blood loss

Albumin: Maintains blood osmotic pressure
Globulins (Immunoglobulins): Antibodies that bind to antigens, forming antigen-antibody complexes
Fibrinogen: Involved in blood clotting.
Nutrients (Glucose, fatty acids, amino acids, cholesterol): Provide energy and building materials
Electrolytes (Sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, phosphorus, magnesium): Maintain fluid balance and nerve function.
Gases (Oxygen, carbon dioxide): Essential for cellular respiration.
Hormones and Enzymes: Involved in various bodily functions.
Waste products (Urea, uric acid, creatinine, ammonia): Waste products need to be removed by kidneys.

Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes):
- No organelles or nuclei
- Contain hemoglobin, an oxygen-carrying protein
- Biconcave shape (increased surface area)
- Functions include transporting oxygen, carbon dioxide and carrying blood group antigens and rh factor.
White Blood Cells (Leukocytes):
- Types:
  - Granulocytes (Neutrophils, Eosinophils, Basophils)
  - Agranulocytes (Lymphocytes, Monocytes)
- Key function: Body defense and immune response
Platelets (Thrombocytes):
- Involved in hemostasis (stopping bleeding)
- Form platelet plugs and blood clots
- Involve in defense mechanisms
- Repair blood vessels

Physical and Mechanical Barriers:
- Skin
- Mucous membranes
- Cilia (respiratory tract)
- Tears and saliva
Chemical Barriers:
- Lysozyme (tears, saliva, mucus)
- Acidic environment (stomach)
- Defensins (antimicrobial peptides)
Cellular Defenses:
- Phagocytic cells (Neutrophils, Macrophages)
- Natural killer (NK) cells — Target and destroy virus-infected cells and cancer cells.
Inflammatory Response:
- Vasodilation (increased blood flow)
- Recruitment of immune cells
- Cytokine and chemokine release
Fever:
- Inhibits pathogen growth
- Enhances immune responses
Complement System: A group of proteins that opsonize pathogens, form membrane attack complexes, and recruit inflammatory cells.
Interferons: Proteins produced by virus-infected cells that interfere with viral replication and activate immune cells (NK cells and macrophages).