Blood

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of albumin in blood?

Regulating body temperature

Fighting infections through white blood cells

Transporting oxygen to body cells

Maintaining osmotic pressure and volume (correct)

How does the pH of blood compare to that of pure water?

Blood has a lower pH than water

Blood has a higher pH than water, making it more acidic

Blood is slightly more basic than pure water (correct)

Blood has a similar pH to water

Which component primarily contributes to the viscosity of blood?

Plasma proteins

Water content

Red blood cells (correct)

White blood cells

What is a characteristic of blood that has just picked up oxygen in the lungs?

It is bright red in color Signup and view all the answers

What is the average volume of blood in adult males?

5-6 liters Signup and view all the answers

Which type of globulin is responsible for transporting iron and fat-soluble vitamins?

Alpha globulins Signup and view all the answers

What role do platelets play in blood function?

Block damaged blood vessels Signup and view all the answers

What role does erythropoietin (EPO) play in the body?

Promotes the production of erythrocytes Signup and view all the answers

Which type of stem cells gives rise to lymphocytes?

Lymphoid stem cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of fibrinogen in the bloodstream?

Facilitate blood clotting Signup and view all the answers

What process occurs for the replacement of donated plasma within the body?

Hemopoiesis Signup and view all the answers

Bone marrow transplants require matching donors primarily to prevent what?

Tissue rejection of donor cells Signup and view all the answers

Which component of blood is primarily responsible for gas exchange?

Erythrocytes Signup and view all the answers

Which type of cytokine is involved in stimulating the production of monocytes?

Monocyte colony-stimulating factors Signup and view all the answers

What shape do mature erythrocytes take to maximize gas exchange?

Biconcave disk Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents the non-cellular components dissolved in plasma?

Electrolytes and proteins Signup and view all the answers

What happens during vascular spasm when a blood vessel is injured?

The smooth muscle in the walls of the vessel contracts. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following substances plays a role in maintaining the temporary platelet plug?

Von Willebrand factor Signup and view all the answers

In which scenario is thrombocytopenia likely to occur?

Insufficient platelet production Signup and view all the answers

What primarily triggers the extrinsic pathway of coagulation?

Release of factor III from extravascular cells Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about thrombus is correct?

A thrombus can form in intact vessels under certain conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What can result from abnormally high counts of eosinophils?

Parasitic worm infestations Signup and view all the answers

Which type of leukocyte is primarily involved in the body's non-specific immune response?

Natural killer cells Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of basophils in relation to inflammation?

Intensify the inflammatory response Signup and view all the answers

What type of leukocyte is commonly associated with chronic illnesses and may exhibit high counts due to infection?

Monocytes Signup and view all the answers

Abnormally low counts of lymphocytes can result from which of the following?

Chronic illness Signup and view all the answers

Which statement regarding lymphocyte memory cells is correct?

They form after exposure to a pathogen. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of granulocytes in the immune system?

Secrete enzymes and molecules that target pathogens Signup and view all the answers

Which condition involves an excessive proliferation of leukocytes, often leading to nonfunctional cells?

Leukocytosis Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary consequence of elevated counts of basophils?

Intensified allergic responses Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following leukocytes are characterized by horseshoe-shaped nuclei?

Monocytes Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of hemoglobin in red blood cells?

To facilitate gas exchange by binding oxygen Signup and view all the answers

Which ion is a critical component of the heme group in hemoglobin?

Iron Signup and view all the answers

What occurs to erythrocytes after their life span of 120 days?

They are phagocytized by macrophages Signup and view all the answers

Which component of hemoglobin carries the oxygen molecule?

Heme groups Signup and view all the answers

In patients with jaundice, what is primarily responsible for the yellowish tinge of the skin?

Accumulation of bilirubin Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents an inherited blood condition characterized by ineffective production of red blood cells?

Thalassemia Signup and view all the answers

What role does transferrin play in iron recycling?

It transports iron in the bloodstream. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following leukocytes is known for rapidly responding to infections and performing phagocytosis?

Neutrophils Signup and view all the answers

What initiates the process of erythrocyte production in the marrow?

Presence of necessary raw materials and nutrients Signup and view all the answers

What form does bilirubin take when it is utilized in bile production by the liver?

Bilirubin-albumin complex Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Blood Functions

Transports nutrients from the bloodstream to the liver for processing, then to cells.
Carries oxygen throughout the body.
Delivers hormones from endocrine glands to target cells.
Removes cellular waste and byproducts to organs for removal.
Provides defense against external and internal threats, using white blood cells, platelets, and plasma proteins.
Maintains homeostasis, regulating body temperature, chemical balance, pH, and water content.

Blood Composition

Hematocrit: Percentage of red blood cells in a sample.
Buffy coat: White blood cells and platelets (less than 1% of blood volume).
Plasma: Largest component (mostly water):
- 92% water
- 7% proteins (albumin, globulins, fibrinogen)
- Nutrients
- Vitamins
- Hormones
Other solutes: Electrolytes, gases, organic nutrients, metabolic wastes

Blood Characteristics

Color: Bright red (oxygenated), dusky red (deoxygenated), depending on hemoglobin saturation.
Viscosity: Five times greater than water, impacting blood pressure and flow.
Temperature: Slightly higher than body temperature (38°C).
pH: 7.35-7.45 (slightly more basic than water).
Volume: ~8% of body weight (4-5L in females, 5-6L in males).

Plasma Proteins

Albumin:
- Most abundant plasma protein.
- Made in the liver.
- Transports fatty acids and steroid hormones.
- Main contributor to blood osmotic pressure, maintaining blood volume and pressure. (~54% of plasma proteins)
Globulins:
- Approx. 38% of total plasma protein.
- Various types (alpha, beta, gamma):
  - Alpha & beta transport iron, lipids, vitamins A, D, E, K
  - Gamma are antibodies (immunoglobulins).
Fibrinogen: (~7% of total plasma proteins)
- Made in the liver.
- Crucial for blood clotting.

Formed Elements

Stem cells: Origin of all formed elements in red bone marrow.
Lifespan: Usually brief; plasma replaces within 24 hours, cells take weeks to replace.
Hemopoiesis: The process of blood cell replacement.
Sites of hemopoiesis: Yolk sac, liver, spleen, lymphatic tissue, red bone marrow (prior to birth); Red bone marrow (after birth); Long bones (children); Cranial, pelvic bones, vertebrae, sternum (adults).
Hemopoietic growth factors: Chemical signals that stimulate blood cell development.
- Erythropoietin (EPO): Kidney, increases RBC production. Banned performance-enhancing drug, also medically used for anemia.
- Thrombopoietin: Liver and kidneys, stimulates platelet production.
- Cytokines: Various cells, stimulate & regulate immune and inflammatory responses. (Colony-stimulating factors (CSFs), Interleukins)

Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells)

Function: Transport oxygen from lungs to tissues, and carbon dioxide from tissues to lungs.
Structure: Biconcave disks, large surface area, few organelles, contain hemoglobin.
Production: In red bone marrow, rapid production. Needs nutrients (glucose, lipids, amino acids) and trace elements (iron, copper, zinc, B vitamins).
Lifespan: 120 days.
Recycling: Removed by macrophages in bone marrow, liver, and spleen; components recycled.
- Globin broken to amino acids, used in new RBCs.
- Iron stored, or carried to bone marrow.
- Heme broken down to bilirubin (processed by liver, eliminated in bile).
Abnormal RBC production: Anemia (insufficient RBCs) can have various causes, including ineffective hematopoiesis, insufficient hemoglobin, or issues with stem cells.

Leukocytes (White Blood Cells)

Function: Body's defense against pathogens.
Emigration/Diapedesis: Exit capillaries to reach infection sites.
Classification: Granular (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils); Agranular (monocytes, lymphocytes).
Granular leukocytes:
- Neutrophils: Most common, rapid responders to bacterial infections, phagocytic.
- Eosinophils: Allergies, parasitic infections, phagocytic.
- Basophils: Least common, intensify inflammation (histamine, heparin).
Agranular leukocytes:
- Monocytes: Phagocytic cells that mature into macrophages, engulf debris/pathogens.
- Lymphocytes:
  - Natural killer cells: Non-specific immunity, kill abnormal cells.
  - B cells: Antibody production (humoral immunity).
  - T cells: Cellular immunity, attack infected cells.
  - Memory cells: Long-lived, provide rapid responses to repeated exposures.
Abnormal leukocyte counts: Leukopenia (low WBCs); Leukocytosis (high WBCs); Leukemia (cancer involving excessive WBCs); Lymphoma (masses of malignant lymphocytes)

Platelets

Function: Stop blood loss (hemostasis).
Formation: Fragments of megakaryocytes.
Storage: One-third stored in the spleen.
Lifespan: 10 days.
Role in hemostasis: Forming platelet plugs, secreting chemicals that promote clotting.

Hemostasis

Process:
- Vascular spasm: Vessel constricts
- Platelet plug: Platelets form a temporary seal.
- Coagulation: Formation of a stable fibrin clot.
Coagulation pathways: Intrinsic, extrinsic, common.
Fibrinolysis: Dissolution of the clot.
- Plasminogen -> Plasmin, breaks down fibrin.
Disorders: Hemophilia (inadequate clotting factors); Thrombocytosis (excess platelets); Thrombocytopenia (insufficient platelets).

Blood Typing and Transfusions

ABO blood groups: Based on A and B antigens. Type O universal donor, AB universal recipient.
Rh blood group: Presence (Rh+) or absence (Rh−) of Rh antigen.
Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN): Rh incompatibility between mother and fetus.
RhoGAM: Prevents development of anti-Rh antibodies in Rh− mothers.
Transfusion reactions: Avoiding mismatched blood types.

Blood Tests

Complete blood count (CBC): Examines blood cells (RBC, WBC, platelets).
Bone marrow biopsy: Diagnostic test of bone marrow sample.
Bone marrow transplant: Treatment to replace faulty bone marrow with donor marrow.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the functions and components of blood with this engaging quiz. Questions cover various aspects of blood physiology, including the roles of different blood cells, proteins, and the physiological properties of blood. Perfect for students in biology or health sciences.