5 Questions
The heavier components of blood are found at the top of a centrifuged sample.
False
The layer containing leukocytes and platelets is called the buffy coat.
True
Blood is a type of muscle tissue.
False
The red blood cell layer constitutes 90% of the total volume of a blood sample.
False
Spinning a blood sample in a centrifuge separates it into three distinct layers.
True
Study Notes
Blood Composition
- Blood is a specialized type of connective tissue consisting of living cells (formed elements) suspended in a nonliving fluid matrix called plasma.
Blood Sample Layers
- When spun in a centrifuge, a blood sample separates into layers based on density, with the heaviest at the bottom and the least dense at the top.
- The three layers that form are:
- Red blood cells (RBCs or erythrocytes) layer, making up 45% of the total blood sample volume (also known as packed cell volume or hematocrit).
- Buffy coat, a thin, whitish layer at the RBC-plasma junction, containing leukocytes and platelets.
Learn about the basics of blood composition and its components, including formed elements and plasma. This quiz covers the fundamentals of blood tests and their importance in patient diagnosis.
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