38 Questions
What is the primary function of neutrophils in the body?
To phagocytize microorganisms and other foreign substances
What is the primary function of albumin in blood?
Maintaining normal osmotic pressure of blood
What is the approximate percentage of plasma in total blood volume?
55%
Which type of WBC is involved in inflammatory reactions associated with allergies and asthma?
Eosinophils
Which of the following plasma proteins is involved in blood clotting?
Fibrinogen
What is the primary function of platelets in the body?
To prevent blood loss by forming blood clots
What is the term for the process of removing dead cells and debris from the tissues?
Phagocytosis
What is the primary function of globulins in blood?
Part of the immune system
What is the approximate volume of blood in the average adult male?
5-6 L
Which type of WBC is the largest of all?
Monocytes
What is the term for the cells that monocytes mature into in tissues?
Macrophages
What is the term for the process of blood cell production?
Hemopoiesis
What is the percentage of red blood cells in the formed elements of blood?
95%
What is the term for the liquid matrix of blood that contains cells and cell fragments?
Plasma
Which of the following is NOT a function of blood?
Digestion of food
What is the term for the proteins that catalyze chemical reactions in blood?
Enzymes
What is the result of heme breakdown in hemoglobin?
Conversion into biliverdin and eventually bilirubin
What is the role of von Willebrand factor in platelet plug formation?
Connecting exposed collagen to platelets
What is the fate of conjugated bilirubin in the body?
It is excreted into the small intestine as part of the bile
What is the result of platelet aggregation in platelet plug formation?
The connection of platelets to one another
What is the role of transferrin in the body?
Transporting iron to various tissues for storage or to the red bone marrow
What is the origin of bilirubin in the body?
The breakdown of hemoglobin
What is the primary function of erythrocytes in the body?
To transport O2 and CO2
What percentage of CO2 is transported in the form of bicarbonate ions?
70%
What is the enzyme responsible for catalyzing the reaction of CO2 transport?
Carbonic anhydrase
What is the primary site of erythropoietin production in response to low blood O2 levels?
Kidneys
What is the fate of the iron released from heme during RBC breakdown?
It is transported to the red bone marrow to produce hemoglobin
What is the function of the globin part of hemoglobin in CO2 transport?
It can bind reversibly to CO2
What is the result of a lack of iron, vitamin B9, or vitamin B12 in RBC production?
Inhibited RBC production
What is the shape of a normal red blood cell?
Biconcave disk
What is the approximate lifespan of RBCs in males?
120 days
What is the function of macrophages in the spleen and liver regarding RBCs?
They remove old or damaged RBCs from the blood
What is the primary function of the intrinsic pathway of clotting?
To initiate clot formation when a blood vessel is damaged
What is the role of thrombin in the clotting process?
To activate clotting factors and stabilize the fibrin clot
What is the primary function of eosinophils?
To attacks certain worm parasites and modulate inflammation
What is the role of basophils in the immune response?
To release histamine and promote inflammation
What is the primary function of monocytes?
To phagocytize bacteria, dead cells, and other debris within tissues
What is the primary function of prothrombinase?
To convert prothrombin to thrombin
Study Notes
Composition of Blood
- Blood is a type of connective tissue that consists of a liquid matrix (plasma) and cells/cell fragments (formed elements)
- Plasma accounts for 55% of blood volume, while formed elements account for 45%
- Total blood volume in an average adult is about 4-5 liters (L) in females and 5-6 L in males
Plasma
- Plasma is a pale-yellow fluid that consists of:
- 91% water
- 7% proteins (albumin, globulins, fibrinogen)
- 2% other components (ions, nutrients, gases, waste products, and regulatory substances)
- Plasma proteins:
- Albumin: 58% of plasma proteins, maintains osmotic pressure, and transports molecules
- Globulins: 38% of plasma proteins, part of the immune system, and transports molecules
- Fibrinogen: 4% of plasma proteins, clotting factor that converts to fibrin
Formed Elements
- Red Blood Cells (RBCs):
- Disk-shaped, biconcave, with a nucleus, and hemoglobin
- Function: transport O2 and CO2
- Produced in red bone marrow through hematopoiesis
- Live for 120 days in males and 110 days in females
- White Blood Cells (WBCs):
- Larger than RBCs, with a nucleus, and no hemoglobin
- Function: defense against infection and disease
- Types:
- Neutrophils: phagocytize microorganisms and other substances
- Eosinophils: attack certain worm parasites and release chemicals that modulate inflammation
- Basophils: release histamine and heparin
- Lymphocytes: produce antibodies and other chemicals that destroy microorganisms
- Monocytes: phagocytic cells in the blood that become macrophages in tissues
- Platelets:
- Small, irregularly-shaped cell fragments
- Function: form platelet plugs and release chemicals necessary for blood clotting
Blood Clotting
- Extrinsic pathway: stimulated by thromboplastin, released by damaged tissue
- Intrinsic pathway: starts when inactive factor XII is activated by a damaged blood vessel
- Common pathway: leads to the formation of a blood clot through the production of thrombin and fibrin
- Fibrinolysis: breakdown of a blood clot through the action of plasmin
Hemoglobin
- A protein in RBCs responsible for O2 transport
- Consists of four protein chains (globin) and four heme groups
- Each heme group contains one Fe2+, which can reversibly bind to an O2 molecule
- Hemoglobin is responsible for 98.5% of O2 transported in blood
Bilirubin and Iron Recycle
- Bilirubin is produced when hemoglobin is broken down in macrophages
- Bilirubin is converted to unconjugated bilirubin, which is taken up by the liver and converted to conjugated bilirubin
- Conjugated bilirubin is released into the small intestine as part of the bile
- Bilirubin is converted to other pigments in the large intestine, some of which are reabsorbed and excreted in the urine
- Iron is released from heme and transported to the red bone marrow, where it is reused to produce hemoglobin
Learn about the functions and composition of blood in the human body. Discover how blood regulates pH and osmosis, maintains body temperature, and protects against foreign substances. This quiz covers the key concepts of Chapter 12 in human anatomy and physiology.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
