Blood Functions and Composition

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Questions and Answers

What is the normal range for platelet count in platelets/ul?

200,000 - 350,000

350,000 - 500,000

250,000 - 400,000 (correct)

150,000 - 300,000

Which condition is characterized by a deficiency in platelet plug formation?

AIDS

Von Willebrand disease (correct)

Hemophilia

Septicemia

What is a common treatment for von Willebrand disease?

Antibiotics

Injection of clotting factor VIII

Bone marrow transplant

Injection of von Willebrand factor (correct)

What characteristic is common in males regarding hemophilia?

It is a sex-linked trait. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which infectious disease is caused by a protozoan and introduced by a mosquito?

Malaria (A) Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of blood is composed of formed elements?

45% (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which function of blood is primarily involved in maintaining body temperature?

Maintenance of body temperature (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main role of albumin in plasma proteins?

Maintenance of osmotic pressure (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between plasma and serum?

Plasma contains clotting factors, serum does not. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about erythrocytes is NOT true?

They contain a nucleus during development. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How does carbon monoxide affect hemoglobin?

It competes with oxygen for binding to iron. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the source of all formed elements in blood?

Hemocytoblasts (D) Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of plasma proteins does fibrinogen comprise?

4% (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of erythropoietin?

To stimulate production of erythrocytes (D) Signup and view all the answers

What happens to hemoglobin when old erythrocytes are removed from circulation?

It is broken down and recycled (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which leukocyte is primarily increased during allergic reactions?

Basophils (B) Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes granulocytes compared to agranulocytes?

They contain specific cytoplasmic granules (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main role of neutrophils?

Engulfing bacteria through phagocytosis (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which process occurs to bilirubin after it is produced from heme?

It is taken up by the liver and released into bile (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of eosinophils?

They are involved in parasitic infections and allergies (B) Signup and view all the answers

What happens to neutrophils after they have participated in phagocytosis?

They die and accumulate as pus (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding the lifespan of neutrophils is correct?

They remain active for 10-12 hours in circulation (C) Signup and view all the answers

What happens when fetal blood leaks into the mother's blood during pregnancy?

The mother produces anti-Rh antibodies. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How can Rh-negative mothers prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN)?

By being injected with Rho(D) immune globulin. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical normal range for male red blood cell count?

4.6-6.2 million per ul of blood. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does a complete blood count (CBC) include?

RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and WBC count. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What condition occurs when there is an abnormally high white blood cell count?

Leukocytosis. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of blood test directly examines the compatibility between donor and recipient blood?

Crossmatch. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What role do platelets play in the body?

They help in blood clotting. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What represents a low hemoglobin measurement in a blood test?

Anemia. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the normal platelet count range important for assessing clotting?

150,000-400,000 per ul of blood. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of lymphocytes?

Respond to viral infections. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of neutrophils is commonly found in a differential white blood cell count?

60-70%. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the process of hemostasis?

It prevents blood loss through multiple steps. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What triggers the formation of a clot during the clotting process?

Activation of clotting factors. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of an Rh-negative mother having a first child with an Rh-positive child?

No problems typically arise with the first pregnancy. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What happens during clot retraction?

Clot shrinks and serum is squeezed out. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of blood can Type O individuals safely receive?

Type O blood. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What describes the term agglutination in blood transfusions?

Clumping of blood cells. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of Type AB blood identifies it as a universal recipient?

It has Type A and Type B antigens. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What induces the production of antibodies in Rh-negative individuals?

Receiving Rh-positive blood. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the function of anticoagulants?

They inhibit clot formation. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Blood Functions

Transports gases, nutrients, waste products, and regulatory molecules
Regulates pH and osmosis
Maintains body temperature
Protects against foreign substances
Forms clots

Blood Composition

Plasma: 55% of total blood volume
- Pale, yellow liquid surrounding cells
- 91% water, 7% proteins, 2% other substances
Formed elements: 45% of total blood volume
- Solid structures (cells and fragments)
- Erythrocytes (RBCs), Leukocytes (WBCs), Thrombocytes (Platelets)

Plasma Proteins

Albumin: 58% of plasma proteins
- Maintains water balance (osmotic pressure).
Globulins: 38% of plasma proteins
- Part of the immune system.
Fibrinogen: 4% of plasma proteins
- Involved in clot formation
- Activated clotting factors convert fibrinogen to fibrin, which forms threadlike proteins for blood clots.

Plasma vs Serum

Plasma: Liquid portion of unclotted blood
- Contains albumin, globulin, and fibrinogen
- Obtained using anticoagulants
Serum: Liquid portion of clotted blood
- Contains only albumin and globulin

Hematopoiesis

Process of producing formed elements in blood
Occurs primarily in red bone marrow in adults
Derived from a single cell population (hemocytoblasts/stem cells)
Different cells differentiate into different cell lines (myeloid & lymphoid)
Important for the production of all formed elements in blood.

Erythrocytes (RBCs)

Disk-shaped with thick edges/biconcave shaped (thicker than the center)
Increases surface area which allows gases to move in and out quickly.
Lose their nucleus and most organelles during development to accommodate hemoglobin for oxygen transport.
Live for 120 days (males) and 110 days (females).
Unable to divide
Transports oxygen from lungs to tissues.

Hemoglobin

Main component of erythrocytes.
Transports 98.5% of oxygen in the body and carbon dioxide.
Oxygenated: Bright red
Deoxygenated: Dark red
Each hemoglobin molecule consists of 4 protein chains (globin) and 4 heme groups. Each heme contains an iron atom, critical for oxygen transport.

Oxyhemoglobin

Hemoglobin with oxygen attached

Carboxyhemoglobin

Hemoglobin with carbon monoxide attached.

Carbon Monoxide

Gas produced by incomplete combustion.
Binds to iron in hemoglobin 210 times more readily than oxygen and does not tend to unbind.
This makes hemoglobin bound to carbon monoxide incapable of transporting oxygen.

Leukocytes (WBCs)

Lack hemoglobin
Larger than erythrocytes (RBCs)
Contains a nucleus
Can leave the blood and travel through tissues (ameboid movement).
Fights off infections; Removes dead cells and debris (phagocytosis).

Granulocytes (types of leukocytes)

Neutrophils: Lilac granules; most common type. Phagocytes, remain in blood for 10-12 hours, then move to tissues, increased in bacterial infections
Eosinophils: Orange-red granules; involved in parasitic infections and allergies, destroys parasites, reduces inflammation.
Basophils: Least common; granular leukocytes; involved in allergic reactions; releases histamine and heparin (prevents clot formation)

Agranulocytes (types of leukocytes)

Lymphocytes: Small granules; part of the immune response; increased in viral infection; several types (T cells and B cells)
Monocytes: Largest; increased in chronic infections; produce macrophages (phagocytes)

Platelets

Minute fragments of cells (cytoplasm surrounded by a cell membrane)
Produced in the red bone marrow from megakaryocytes.
Small fragments break off and enter the blood as platelets.
Important role in preventing blood loss.

Blood Loss Prevention (Hemostasis)

Vascular spasm: Temporary constriction of blood vessels (smooth muscle contraction).
Platelet plug formation: Accumulation of platelets.
Blood clotting (coagulation): Transformation of blood from liquid to gel.
- Clot is a network of threadlike proteins called fibrin (traps blood cells and fluid).
- Depends on clotting factors.

Clotting Factors

Proteins in plasma, only activated following injury, made in the liver, requires vitamin K.

Clotting Steps

Injury activates clotting factors.
Prothrombinase is formed and acts on prothrombin to convert it into thrombin.
Thrombin converts fibrinogen to fibrin.
Fibrin forms a clot.

Anticoagulants

Heparin and antithrombin inactivate thrombin.
- Prevents clots from forming.

Blood Grouping

ABO blood groups are determined by antigens on surface of red blood cells.
- Type A: has Anti-B antibodies
- Type B: has Anti-A antibodies
- Type AB: has neither Anti-A or Anti-B antibodies
- Type O: has both Anti-A and Anti-B antibodies
Rh blood groups are determined by Rh antigens on the surface of red blood cells; 95-85% are Rh+
Incompatibility during transfusion or pregnancy can result in agglutination or hemolysis of red blood cells

Blood Tests

Complete Blood Count (CBC): Provides information about RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and WBC count
Red blood cell count: measures RBCs
White blood cell count: measures WBCs
Hemoglobin: measures hemoglobin in blood.
Hematocrit: percentage of RBCs in blood.
Differential white blood count: determines percentage of each type of leukocytes

Clotting Disorders

Von Willebrand disease: Most common inherited bleeding disorder.
Hemophilia: Genetic disorder where clotting is abnormal or absent, sex-linked.
Septicemia: blood poisoning.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the essential functions and composition of blood. This quiz covers the roles of plasma, formed elements, and the differences between plasma and serum. Understand the significance of various plasma proteins and their functions in the body.