Blood Composition and Function Quiz

Blood carries oxygen (O₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂), waste products like urea, glucose, and hormones throughout the body.

Blood's primary role is to transport substances throughout the body, including oxygen, nutrients, and waste products, ensuring proper function of cells and organs.

Blood is composed of blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets) representing about 45% of the volume and plasma, which makes up about 55% of the volume.

Plasma, the liquid part of blood, regulates fluid balance, transports substances, and provides clotting factors.

Plasma consists mainly of water (90%), and the remaining 10% includes organic substances like proteins (albumin, globulins, fibrinogen) and inorganic substances.

Proteins found in the liquid portion of blood called plasma. They contribute to various functions like maintaining fluid balance and transporting substances.

The most abundant plasma protein, primarily responsible for maintaining osmotic pressure in the blood, helping keep fluids in the blood vessels.

A diverse group of plasma proteins involved in transporting substances, fighting infections, and clotting blood.

A plasma protein essential for blood clotting. It converts into fibrin, a thread-like protein that forms a net to trap blood cells and stop bleeding.

Another plasma protein involved in blood clotting. It's converted into thrombin, an enzyme that activates fibrinogen.

Red blood cells (RBCs) carry oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues, where it's needed for cellular processes.

RBCs transport carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular respiration, from the tissues back to the lungs for exhalation.

RBCs act as buffers to help maintain the pH balance of blood, preventing it from becoming too acidic or alkaline.

The number of RBCs in blood contributes to its thickness or viscosity, which affects blood flow.

Red blood cells are circular, non-nucleated, and biconcave discs with a diameter of about 7.5 micrometers.

Red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, are specialized cells responsible for oxygen transport in the blood. They are biconcave in shape and lack a nucleus, making them different from other cells.

The biconcave shape of RBCs provides a larger surface area for gas exchange, allowing for efficient diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide. It also provides flexibility for navigating narrow capillaries.

Hemoglobin is a protein found in RBCs, responsible for binding and transporting oxygen throughout the body. It also plays a role in carbon dioxide transportation.

RBCs lack mitochondria, so they rely on anaerobic glycolysis, a process that doesn't require oxygen, to generate energy.

Carbon dioxide is transported in the blood through the RBCs, mainly as bicarbonate ions. The enzyme carbonic anhydrase accelerates this process.

Low oxygen levels in tissues trigger the production of erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates red blood cell formation in the bone marrow.

Erythropoietin is primarily produced in the kidneys (90%) and to a lesser extent in the liver (10%).

Erythropoiesis is the continuous process of producing new red blood cells (RBCs) in the body.

Healthy bone marrow is crucial for RBC production. Damage to bone marrow through radiation or drugs can lead to a deficiency of all blood cells, resulting in aplastic anemia.

Iron is an essential mineral for erythropoiesis. It's a key component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.

Thyroid hormones and glucocorticoids stimulate the activity of bone marrow cells, which are responsible for producing blood cells.

Androgens, male sex hormones, increase the production of erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production.

Copper and Cobalt act as cofactors, assisting in the process of hemoglobin synthesis, ensuring proper red blood cell formation.

Vitamin B12 and folic acid are essential for the final maturation of red blood cells. Their deficiency leads to megaloblastic anemia.

Platelets play a crucial role in stopping bleeding by releasing serotonin for vasoconstriction (narrowing blood vessels), forming a platelet plug, and releasing clotting factors that contribute to clot formation.

Hemostasis is the process of stopping bleeding. It involves three main steps: 1. Vascular spasm (narrowing of blood vessels), 2. Formation of a platelet plug (aggregation of platelets at the wound site), and 3. Formation of a blood clot (solidification of blood to seal the wound).

Granular leukocytes are white blood cells that contain granules in their cytoplasm. They are responsible for various immune responses, including fighting infections and allergic reactions. The three main types are neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils.

Non-granular leukocytes are white blood cells that lack granules in their cytoplasm. They include lymphocytes (B and T cells) involved in cell-mediated and humoral immunity, and monocytes that act as powerful phagocytes.

Eosinophils are a type of granular leukocyte primarily involved in fighting parasitic infections and allergic reactions. They release substances that damage parasites and regulate inflammation.

1. Prothrombin activators form via intrinsic or extrinsic pathways. 2. Prothrombin activator converts prothrombin into thrombin. 3. Thrombin converts fibrinogen into fibrin threads. 4. The clot is stabilized.

It's an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of prothrombin into thrombin, a key step in blood clotting.

It acts as an enzyme to convert fibrinogen into fibrin threads, forming the meshwork of a blood clot.

Medicines that reduce the blood's ability to clot. They are necessary if the blood clots too much, preventing dangerous blockages in blood vessels.

It's a plasma protein that converts into fibrin threads, forming the meshwork of a blood clot.

White blood cells, also known as leukocytes, are the body's defense system against infections. They are responsible for identifying and destroying harmful invaders like bacteria and viruses.

White blood cells are broadly classified into two types based on the presence or absence of granules in their cytoplasm: granular leukocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils) and non-granular leukocytes (lymphocytes, monocytes).

Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are the 'first responders' to infection. They engulf and destroy invading bacteria through phagocytosis.

Eosinophils are involved in fighting parasitic infections and allergic reactions. While they can perform phagocytosis, it's weaker than neutrophils.

Basophils release heparin, a substance that prevents blood clotting, and play a role in allergic reactions.

Lymphocytes are responsible for immune responses. They produce antibodies and also perform phagocytosis, but their main role is in specific immunity.

Monocytes engulf and destroy larger invaders like bacteria and cellular debris. They also help initiate the immune response by presenting antigens to other immune cells.

An elevated white blood cell count, also known as leukocytosis, often indicates that the body is fighting an infection.

A blood classification system based on the presence or absence of A and B antigens on red blood cells. There are four main types: A, B, AB, and O.

Another blood classification system based on the presence or absence of the D antigen on red blood cells. If you have the D antigen, you are Rh+ (positive). If not, you are Rh- (negative).

Agglutinogens are the antigens found on the surface of red blood cells. Agglutinins are the antibodies present in the plasma.

When a blood transfusion is given, the donor's blood must be compatible with the recipient's to prevent transfusion reactions. This is due to the interaction between the recipient's anti-A and anti-B antibodies and the donor's A and B antigens.

Blood group O is considered the universal donor because it lacks both A and B antigens, meaning it won't react with the recipient's antibodies.