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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of blood plasma?
What is the primary function of blood plasma?
Which components of blood are responsible for oxygen transport?
Which components of blood are responsible for oxygen transport?
During blood clotting, what does fibrinogen become?
During blood clotting, what does fibrinogen become?
What type of tissue is blood classified as?
What type of tissue is blood classified as?
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What is the main method used to separate the elements of blood for analysis?
What is the main method used to separate the elements of blood for analysis?
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What is the shape of red blood cells?
What is the shape of red blood cells?
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Which of the following is NOT classified as a plasma protein?
Which of the following is NOT classified as a plasma protein?
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What type of cells are leukocytes?
What type of cells are leukocytes?
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Which type of blood cells is primarily responsible for engulfing bacteria?
Which type of blood cells is primarily responsible for engulfing bacteria?
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Which white blood cells respond primarily to parasitic infections and allergies?
Which white blood cells respond primarily to parasitic infections and allergies?
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Which organ detects and breaks down weakened red blood cells?
Which organ detects and breaks down weakened red blood cells?
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What substance is excreted when hemoglobin breaks down?
What substance is excreted when hemoglobin breaks down?
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Which type of white blood cell is primarily responsible for the production of antibodies?
Which type of white blood cell is primarily responsible for the production of antibodies?
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What is the primary function of platelets in the blood?
What is the primary function of platelets in the blood?
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What is the precursor cell that leads to the formation of platelets?
What is the precursor cell that leads to the formation of platelets?
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Which cells in the immune system release granules containing toxic substances to combat bacteria?
Which cells in the immune system release granules containing toxic substances to combat bacteria?
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What is the primary role of erythropoietin (EPO) in the body?
What is the primary role of erythropoietin (EPO) in the body?
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What is the lifespan of a typical red blood cell?
What is the lifespan of a typical red blood cell?
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What is the sequence of events for a cardiac cell contraction initiated by an adjacent cell's action potential?
What is the sequence of events for a cardiac cell contraction initiated by an adjacent cell's action potential?
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What effect do neurotransmitters like norepinephrine (NE) and acetylcholine (ACh) have on heart pace?
What effect do neurotransmitters like norepinephrine (NE) and acetylcholine (ACh) have on heart pace?
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Which channels and mechanisms are primarily responsible for the depolarization phase in pacemaker cells?
Which channels and mechanisms are primarily responsible for the depolarization phase in pacemaker cells?
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Study Notes
Blood Composition and Function
- Blood is a connective tissue, consisting of cellular components (formed elements) and an extracellular matrix (plasma).
- Centrifugation separates blood based on density, creating distinct layers: plasma, buffy coat (platelets and leukocytes), and erythrocytes (red blood cells).
- Plasma comprises water, electrolytes, hormones, gases, nutrients, wastes, and proteins (albumen, globulins, transport proteins, fibrinogen).
- Serum is plasma minus the clotting proteins (fibrinogen).
- Blood's functions include distributing gases, nutrients, wastes, ions, chemical messengers, and heat across the body.
- Blood movement is driven by pressure differences, essential for all transport functions.
Formed Elements
- Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells): Disc-shaped cells containing hemoglobin, responsible for oxygen transport.
- Hemoglobin (Hb): A protein with four peptide chains, capable of binding and releasing oxygen, carbon dioxide. Different forms include oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, and carbaminohemoglobin.
- Hematopoiesis: Blood cell formation occurring primarily in red bone marrow, utilizing hematopoietic stem cells. Yellow bone marrow primarily contains adipose tissue.
- Leukocytes (White Blood Cells): Include granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils) and agranulocytes (lymphocytes, monocytes). They participate in immune responses.
- Platelets: Essential for blood clotting. Their precursor cell is the megakaryocyte.
- Neutrophils engulf bacteria.
- Eosinophils are involved in parasitic infections and allergies.
- Lymphocytes produce antibodies.
- Basophils release toxic substances.
Blood Analysis and Clinical Terms
- Hematocrit: The percentage of red blood cells in blood volume.
- Serum: The liquid portion of blood after clotting.
- Centrifugation: The method used to separate blood components based on density.
- Plasma proteins: Albumin, globulin, and fibrinogen, are not all components of plasma; collagen is not.
- Fibrinogen converts to fibrin during blood clotting(insoluble).
Erythrocyte Lifespan and Breakdown
- Erythrocytes have a lifespan of approximately 120 days.
- The liver and spleen detect and destroy aged or damaged red blood cells.
- Bilirubin is a byproduct of hemoglobin breakdown, excreted from the body.
Erythropoietin (EPO)
- Erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production.
Heart Function (Overview)
- Pericardium: The membranes surrounding the heart (fibrous, parietal, visceral).
- Heart innervation: Autonomic nerves (sympathetic and parasympathetic) release neurotransmitters (norepinephrine, acetylcholine) affecting pacemaker cells, influencing heart rate.
- Pacemaker cells: Specialized cells generating electrical impulses that initiate heartbeat; have a unique channel, 'funny channels', crucial for maintaining their inherent rhythmic activity. They also use calcium channels instead of sodium channels to generate depolarization.
- Contractile cardiac cells: Depolarization from adjacent cells initiates an action potential via gap junctions in the intercalated discs. The action potential leads to contraction by a process involving calcium release.
- Calcium-induced calcium release (CICR): Calcium entering the cell triggers more calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), a crucial step of contraction.
- Plateau phase: A delay in repolarization due to simultaneous calcium and potassium flow.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the composition and functions of blood with this informative quiz. Explore the roles of different blood components, such as plasma and formed elements, including erythrocytes and hemoglobin. Understand how blood circulates and its critical functions in the body.
