Hematocrit Quiz

Hematocrit and Hemoglobin

• Hematocrit is the proportion of red blood cells in the blood.
• A high hematocrit level indicates dehydration or polycythemia (an overproduction of red blood cells).
• The normal range of hematocrit for females is 37-48%.

Shear Rate and Plasma

• Shear rate is the rate at which red blood cells are deformed in the circulation due to fluid dynamics.
• Shear rate is inversely proportional to plasma viscosity.

Hematocrit Correlations and Health Impact

• Hematocrit levels have been reported to be correlated with body mass index (BMI) in adolescents.
• Lowered hematocrit levels can lead to anemia, causing fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath.

Determining Hematocrit Levels

• The most accurate method for determining hematocrit levels is via centrifugation.

Hematocrit, Viscosity, and Shear Rate

• Hematocrit is directly proportional to blood viscosity, which is inversely proportional to shear rate.

Hemoglobin and Red Blood Cells

• Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that binds to oxygen, carrying it to the body's tissues.
• Increased androgens can cause an increase in hemoglobin levels.
• Low hemoglobin levels can occur due to iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency, or chronic blood loss.
• In sickle cell disease, red blood cells become rigid and crescent-shaped, blocking blood flow.

Red Blood Cell Shape and Function

• Red blood cells are normally disk-shaped, allowing for flexibility and movement through narrow blood vessels.
• In spherocytic anemia or sickle-cell anemia, red blood cells become spherical or crescent-shaped, leading to premature destruction.
• The primary function of hemoglobin in the body is to carry oxygen to the body's tissues.

Erythrocytes and Erythropoiesis

• Erythrocytes are produced through erythropoiesis, a process involving the production, maturity, and destruction of red blood cells.
• The main role of erythrocytes is to carry oxygen to the body's tissues.
• Integral membrane proteins in erythrocytes help maintain cell shape and structure.

Erythrocyte Differentiation and Anemia

• Erythrocyte differentiation stages include proerythroblast, basophilic erythroblast, polychromatic erythroblast, and orthochromatic erythroblast.
• Anucleate cells, like erythrocytes, lack a nucleus.
• Causes of anemia include iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency, chronic blood loss, and decreased erythrocyte production.

Glycolysis and Cellular Respiration

• Glycolysis is the first step of cellular respiration, converting glucose into pyruvate.
• Phosphoglycerate kinase is the enzyme responsible for relocating the phosphate from the 3rd to the 2nd carbon in the glycolysis pathway.
• Enolase is the enzyme responsible for transferring a phosphate from phosphoenolpyruvate to ADP in glycolysis.
• 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (2,3-BPG) is formed when a water molecule is removed from 2-phosphoglycerate in glycolysis.