Blood Components and Functions

Questions and Answers

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the constituents of blood?

Blood volume in adults is about 4 L.

Blood volume in adults is about 5 L.

Blood volume in adults is about 6 L. (correct)

Blood volume in adults is about 7 L.

Which component of the blood system is responsible for the critical colloid oncotic pressure?

Albumin

Which of the following is TRUE regarding erythrocytes?

Erythrocytes are responsible for blood clotting.

Erythrocytes are responsible for tissue oxygenation. (correct)

Erythrocytes are responsible for tissue carbon dioxide removal.

Erythrocytes are primarily involved in immune response.

Which of the following is NOT a granulocyte?

Monocyte Signup and view all the answers

What are the predominant cells of early inflammation in response to a urinary tract infection?

Neutrophil Signup and view all the answers

Which cells have a horseshoe-shaped nucleus and no granules present?

Monocytes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is TRUE regarding platelets?

They are disk-shaped cytoplasmic fragments. Signup and view all the answers

Which lymphoid organs cluster around lymphatic veins and collect interstitial fluid from tissues?

Lymph nodes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the four processes of platelet activation?

Inhibition Signup and view all the answers

What is responsible for the lysis or the breakdown of blood clots?

Fibrinolytic system Signup and view all the answers

Plasma is _____

90% water and 10% dissolved solutes. Signup and view all the answers

Which is not a plasma component?

Platelets Signup and view all the answers

What is the most abundant protein in blood plasma?

Albumins Signup and view all the answers

A fragment of megakaryocytic cytoplasm is the _____

platelet Signup and view all the answers

Mast cell mediators are available to _____

vascular endothelial cells, nerves, and immune cells. Signup and view all the answers

Identify the differentiation pathway in the development of erythrocytes

Uncommitted pluripotential stem cell - normoblast - reticulocyte Signup and view all the answers

A differential count of WBC's includes everything except _____

reticulocytes Signup and view all the answers

The main regulator of platelet circulating mass is _____

thrombopoietin Signup and view all the answers

The normal platelet count/mm3 of blood is about _____

140-340 x 10^3 Signup and view all the answers

The hematocrit is the _____

percentage of RBC's in a given volume of blood. Signup and view all the answers

If the total leukocytic count of an individual was 7000/mm3, about how many neutrophils would normally be present in a mm3 of blood?

4200 Signup and view all the answers

Which granulocyte functions in antibody-mediated defense against parasites?

Eosinophil Signup and view all the answers

About how many times more RBC's than WBC's are there in a mm3 of blood?

1,000 Signup and view all the answers

Which is an agranulocyte?

Lymphocyte Signup and view all the answers

Which are the most effective phagocytes?

Both A and B Signup and view all the answers

Erythropoiesis requires vitamins:

C, E, B2, and B12. Signup and view all the answers

Nitric oxide and prostacyclin _____

inhibit platelet adhesion and aggregation. Signup and view all the answers

Which test reflects bone marrow activity?

Reticulocyte count. Signup and view all the answers

As an individual ages, _____

lymphocytic function decreases. Signup and view all the answers

IL-3 stimulates _____

pluripotent stem cell. Signup and view all the answers

G-CSF stimulates _____

macrophage, fibroblast, neutrophil. Signup and view all the answers

Immunoglobulins (antibodies) _____

defend against microorganisms. Signup and view all the answers

Immunoglobulins are synthesized by _____

B lymphocytes. Signup and view all the answers

Clotting factors _____

stop bleeding from damaged blood vessels. Signup and view all the answers

Clotting factors are produced in the _____

liver. Signup and view all the answers

Lipoproteins are _____

carrier molecules that transport lipids through the blood. Signup and view all the answers

Cellular components of the blood: _____

RBC's, WBC's, PMN's, MPS's, Platelets. Signup and view all the answers

Erythrocytes/RBC's occupy _____

42-48% of blood volume. Signup and view all the answers

Hemoglobin/Hb constitutes approximately _____

33% of the RBC volume. Signup and view all the answers

Hb functions to _____

carry blood gases and gives color to the cell. Signup and view all the answers

Leukocytes/WBC's _____

remove debris and defend the body against organisms that cause infection. Signup and view all the answers

Average amount of WBCs per mm3 of blood:

10,000 WBCs/mm3 of blood. Signup and view all the answers

Neutrophils are classified as _____

granulocytes, phagocytic, and have segmented nuclei. Signup and view all the answers

Neutrophils occupy approximately _____

55% of WBC count. Signup and view all the answers

Neutrophils are the _____

chief phagocytes of early inflammation that migrate to the site of the infection. Signup and view all the answers

Eosinophils are classified as _____

granulocytes, phagocytic, and have segmented nuclei. Signup and view all the answers

Eosinophils occupy approximately _____

1-4% of WBC count. Signup and view all the answers

Eosinophils target _____

larger invading organisms (worms). Signup and view all the answers

Eosinophils participate in _____

hypersensitivity reactions and help control inflammatory processes. Signup and view all the answers

Basophils are classified as _____

granulocytes, phagocytic, and have segmented nuclei. Signup and view all the answers

Basophils occupy approximately _____

1% of WBC count. Signup and view all the answers

Basophils have a role in _____

stimulating inflammatory response by releasing histamines and anticoagulants. Signup and view all the answers

Monocytes are classified as _____

agranulocytes and macrophages. Signup and view all the answers

Monocytes are _____

immature macrophages and circulate the bloodstream. Signup and view all the answers

Once monocytes enter the tissues, _____

they become 5Xs larger and develop into mature macrophages. Signup and view all the answers

Lymphocytes are classified as _____

agranulocytes. Signup and view all the answers

Lymphocytes occupy approximately _____

36% of WBC count. Signup and view all the answers

B and T Lymphocytes are the primary cells of the _____

humoral and cellular immune response and are located and matured in the lymphoid tissues. Signup and view all the answers

Platelets/thrombocytes are _____

small non-nucleated discs. Signup and view all the answers

Platelets are derived from _____

megakaryocytes and released into the blood. Signup and view all the answers

Platelets make up approximately _____

150,000-400,000 platelets/mm3 of blood. Signup and view all the answers

Platelets' main role is _____

concerned with hemostasis. Signup and view all the answers

Platelets aggregate to form a _____

hemostatic plug and activate and augment the coagulation. Signup and view all the answers

Platelets form _____

fibrin. Signup and view all the answers

Lymphoid organs are _____

aggregations of lymphoid tissue that are classified as primary or secondary. Signup and view all the answers

Primary lymphoid organs include:

Thymus and bone marrow Signup and view all the answers

Secondary lymphoid organs include:

Spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils, and Peyer's patches Signup and view all the answers

What is the largest mass of lymphatic tissue consisting of red/white pulp?

Spleen Signup and view all the answers

What is red pulp?

venous sinus filled with blood and cords of splenic tissue (Billroth's cords). Signup and view all the answers

What is white pulp?

clusters of lymphocytes surround the arteries of the spleen at intervals (Malpighian bodies). Signup and view all the answers

The spleen phagocytizes _____

bacteria and worn-out RBC's and platelets. Signup and view all the answers

The spleen produces _____

lymphocytes and plasma cells. Signup and view all the answers

The spleen stores _____

and releases blood in case of demand. Signup and view all the answers

What are lymph nodes?

bean-shaped structures located along the length of the lymphatics. Signup and view all the answers

What are lymphatics?

vein-like vessels that collect interstitial fluid from the tissues and put it back into the circulatory system. Signup and view all the answers

The Mononuclear Phagocyte System (MPS) consists of _____

bone marrow precursors, the monocytes in the peripheral blood, and macrophages in tissues. Signup and view all the answers

Colony-stimulating factor is _____

secreted by monocytes and macrophages, stimulate growth of colonies of these cells. Signup and view all the answers

Erythropoietin is _____

glycoprotein that controls RBC production, produced in the kidney. Signup and view all the answers

RBC's (in fetuses) are produced in the _____

liver and spleen. Signup and view all the answers

RBC's (after birth) are produced in the _____

bone marrow. Signup and view all the answers

Bone marrow (myeloid tissue) _____

is confined to the cavities of the bone. Signup and view all the answers

Bone marrow consists of:

blood vessels, nerves, mononuclear phagocytes, stem cells, blood cells in various stages of differentiation, yellow marrow (fatty tissue). Signup and view all the answers

Erythrocytes are _____

derived from erythroblasts or normoblasts. Signup and view all the answers

Hemoglobin is composed of _____

two pairs of polypeptide chains and four heme complexes (iron). Signup and view all the answers

RBC development requires:

vitamin B12, folate, and iron. Signup and view all the answers

WBC's arise from _____

stem cells in the bone marrow. Signup and view all the answers

Granulopoietin _____

stimulates granulopoiesis. Signup and view all the answers

Platelets develop from _____

megakaryocytes by endomitosis (replication without cytoplasmic division), expanding platelets break up into fragments. Signup and view all the answers

Thrombopoietin is _____

a platelet-stimulating factor which causes megakaryocyte development, endomitosis, and platelet release to speed up. Signup and view all the answers

A blood clot consists of _____

a meshwork of protein strands (fibrin) that stabilizes the platelet plug and traps other cells. Signup and view all the answers

Bone marrow aspiration is _____

marrow is withdrawn by using a hollow needle; tests include: cell iron stores and presence of abnormal cells. Signup and view all the answers

Bone marrow biopsy is _____

a slice of marrow is removed; tests include: tumors, fibrotic infiltration, and reduced population of cells. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Blood Constituents

Blood volume in adults averages around 6 liters.
Plasma comprises about 90% water and 10% dissolved solutes.
Platelets are small, nucleated discs forming part of the hemostatic mechanism.

Blood Cell Types

Erythrocytes (RBCs) are primarily responsible for tissue oxygenation, occupying 42-48% of blood volume.
Leukocytes (WBCs) function in immune defense, with an average count of 10,000/mm³ of blood.
Platelets count ranges from 150,000 to 400,000/mm³.
Major types of WBCs include neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.

Platelets and Coagulation

Platelets are derived from megakaryocytes and play a crucial role in hemostasis by aggregating to form a hemostatic plug.
The fibrinolytic system is responsible for the breakup of blood clots.
Thrombopoietin is the key regulator of circulating platelet mass.

Erythropoiesis and Hemoglobin

Erythropoiesis involves the differentiation pathway from pluripotent stem cells to erythrocytes.
Vitamin B12, folate, and iron are essential in RBC development.
Hemoglobin constitutes approximately 33% of RBC volume and is responsible for gas transport.

Immune Response and Cells

Neutrophils are the primary phagocytes in early inflammatory responses, making up about 55% of the WBC count.
Eosinophils target larger organisms such as parasites and are involved in hypersensitivity reactions.
Lymphocytes, accounting for around 36% of WBCs, include B and T cells critical for humoral and cellular immunity.

Lymphoid Organs

Primary lymphoid organs include the bone marrow and thymus, while secondary organs include the spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils, and Peyer's patches.
The spleen acts as a blood reservoir and is responsible for phagocytizing bacteria and aged RBCs, while also producing lymphocytes.

Mononuclear Phagocyte System (MPS)

The MPS consists of bone marrow precursors and includes monocytes and macrophages, essential for immune surveillance and debris clearance.

Hematocrit and White Blood Cell Differentials

Hematocrit refers to the percentage of RBCs in a volume of blood, indicative of blood health.
A differential WBC count helps determine the presence and types of leukocytes but does not include reticulocytes.

Laboratory Tests

Reticulocyte count reflects bone marrow activity, indicating RBC production efficiency.
Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy are critical procedures for assessing hematological disorders, abnormalities, or diseases.

Additional Factors

Nitric oxide and prostacyclin inhibit platelet adhesion and aggregation, preventing unnecessary clotting.
Immunoglobulins (antibodies) synthesized by B lymphocytes help defend against pathogens.

Aging and Hematopoiesis

Lymphocytic function gradually declines with age, affecting immune responses over time.
G-CSF and IL-3 play roles in stimulating the production of various blood cells, including neutrophils and stem cells.

Clotting and Healing

Clotting factors, produced in the liver, are essential for stopping bleeding from damaged vessels, forming fibrin nets that stabilize platelet plugs.

Development Pathways

Erythrocytes develop from erythroblasts through a process involving multiple steps, regulated by various cytokines and nutrient availability.

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Description

Explore the various constituents of blood, including plasma, blood cell types, and their functions. Dive deeper into the roles of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets in the circulatory system. Understand the processes involved in coagulation and the regulation of blood components.