Human Blood Characteristics and Composition
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Questions and Answers

What is the pH range of blood?

  • 7.35 to 7.45 (correct)
  • 8.00 to 8.10
  • 7.50 to 7.70
  • 7.00 to 7.30

    • What is the primary function of albumin in plasma?

  • Contributing to osmotic pressure (correct)
  • Fighting pathogens
  • Clotting blood vessels
  • Transporting respiratory gases

    • Which of the following best describes the characteristic color of oxygen-rich blood?

  • Purple
  • Scarlet red (correct)
  • Dull red
  • Bright blue

    • How much blood is approximately found in a healthy adult?

    <p>5–6 liters</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of blood is made up of plasma?

    <p>55-60%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of blood cell is primarily involved in the body's immune response?

    <p>Leukocytes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about blood temperature is correct?

    <p>It is slightly higher than body temperature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary component of plasma?

    <p>Water</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of erythropoietin in the body?

    <p>To stimulate the production of red blood cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following factors can lead to decreased oxygen-carrying ability of the blood?

    <p>Decreased red blood cell count</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organs are primarily responsible for the release of erythropoietin?

    <p>Kidneys and liver</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does enhanced erythropoiesis have on red blood cell count?

    <p>Increases red blood cell count</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which condition does NOT contribute to lowered oxygen-carrying ability of blood?

    <p>Increased availability of O2</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of erythrocytes?

    <p>To carry oxygen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of erythrocytes?

    <p>They contain mitochondria</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many oxygen molecules can one hemoglobin molecule bind?

    <p>4</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the normal range of hemoglobin content in blood?

    <p>12–18 g per 100 ml</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Anemia is characterized by which of the following?

    <p>Decreased oxygen-carrying ability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Sickle cell anemia results from what alteration in red blood cells?

    <p>Abnormal shape of red blood cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many red blood cells are typically found in one cubic millimeter of blood?

    <p>5 million</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of neutrophils?

    <p>To act as phagocytes at infection sites</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinctive feature is characteristic of monocytes?

    <p>U- or kidney-shaped nucleus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which granulocyte is the least numerous in the bloodstream?

    <p>Basophils</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can result from a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells?

    <p>Anemia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of white blood cells (WBCs) do eosinophils typically represent?

    <p>1-4 percent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do lymphocytes primarily contribute to the body?

    <p>By playing a role in the immune response</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the normal platelet count per mm3 of blood?

    <p>300,000 platelets</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of granule is primarily associated with basophils?

    <p>Large dark blue-staining granules containing histamine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which formed element is produced from megakaryocytes?

    <p>Platelets</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the main causes of low blood oxygen-carrying ability?

    <p>Decreased RBC count</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor is not related to decreased blood oxygen levels?

    <p>High RBC turnover rate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the body respond to low blood oxygen levels?

    <p>Increases the rate of hemoglobin synthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does a decreased amount of hemoglobin have on oxygen levels?

    <p>Decreases oxygen transport capacity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement accurately describes a condition affecting homeostasis?

    <p>Low blood O2 indicates a problem with RBC count or hemoglobin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Blood Characteristics

    • Blood is a sticky, opaque fluid that is heavier and thicker than water.
    • Oxygen-rich blood is scarlet red, while oxygen-poor blood is duller red or purple.
    • Blood has a metallic, salty taste.
    • The pH of blood is slightly alkaline, ranging from 7.35 to 7.45.
    • Blood temperature is slightly higher than body temperature, around 38°C or 100.4°F.

    Blood Volume

    • A healthy adult has approximately 5-6 liters, or about 6 quarts, of blood.
    • Blood accounts for approximately 8% of body weight.

    Plasma Composition

    • Plasma is primarily made up of water (90%).
    • It is a straw-colored fluid containing many dissolved substances, including nutrients, salts (electrolytes), respiratory gases, hormones, plasma proteins, and waste products.

    Plasma Proteins

    • Plasma proteins are the most abundant solutes in plasma, primarily produced by the liver.
    • Albumin is an essential blood buffer and contributes to osmotic pressure.
    • Clotting proteins help to stop blood loss when a blood vessel is injured.
    • Antibodies protect the body from pathogens.

    Blood Composition Variability

    • The composition of blood fluctuates as cells exchange substances with the blood.
    • The liver produces more proteins when levels decline.
    • The respiratory and urinary systems regulate blood pH to normal levels when it becomes too acidic or alkaline.
    • Plasma distributes body heat.

    Formed Elements

    • Blood contains:
      • Erythrocytes (RBCs)
      • Leukocytes (WBCs)
      • Platelets

    Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells)

    • Their main function is to carry oxygen.
    • They lack a nucleus, contain few organelles, and have no mitochondria.
    • Erythrocytes are essentially bags of hemoglobin (Hb).
    • They are shaped like biconcave discs.
    • Normal blood contains around 5 million RBCs per cubic millimeter (mm3) of blood.

    Hemoglobin

    • Hemoglobin is an iron-bearing protein that binds oxygen.
    • Each hemoglobin molecule can bind to 4 oxygen molecules.
    • An individual erythrocyte has 250 million hemoglobin molecules.
    • Normal blood contains 12-18 g of hemoglobin per 100 milliliters (ml) of blood.

    Anemia

    • A decrease in the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity due to:
      • Lower than usual RBC count
      • Abnormal or deficient hemoglobin content in RBCs
    • Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is caused by abnormally shaped hemoglobin.

    Granulocytes

    • Neutrophils:

      • The most common type of WBC.
      • Have a multilobed nucleus.
      • Cytoplasm stains pink and contains fine granules.
      • They are phagocytes that function at active sites of infection.
      • Numbers increase during infection.
      • There are 3,000-7,000 neutrophils per mm3 of blood (40-70 percent of WBCs).

    • Eosinophils:

      • Have a nucleus that stains blue-red.
      • Have brick-red cytoplasmic granules.
      • Function to kill parasitic worms and participate in allergy attacks.
      • There are 100-400 eosinophils per mm3 of blood (1-4 percent of WBCs).

    • Basophils:

      • The rarest of the WBCs.
      • Possess large histamine-containing granules that stain dark blue.
      • Contain heparin (an anticoagulant).
      • There are 20-50 basophils per mm3 of blood (0-1 percent of WBCs).

    Agranulocytes

    • Lymphocytes:

      • Have a large, dark purple nucleus.
      • Slightly larger than RBCs.
      • Reside in lymphatic tissues.
      • Play a crucial role in immune responses.
      • There are 1,500-3,000 lymphocytes per mm3 of blood (20-45 percent of WBCs).

    • Monocytes:

      • The largest of the white blood cells.
      • Have a unique U- or kidney-shaped nucleus.
      • Function as macrophages when they migrate into tissues.
      • Important in fighting chronic infections.
      • There are 100-700 monocytes per mm3 of blood (4-8 percent of WBCs).

    Platelets

    • Fragments of megakaryocytes (multinucleate cells).
    • Essential for the clotting process.
    • Normal platelet count is 300,000 platelets per mm3 of blood.

    Regulation of Red Blood Cell Production

    • Normal blood oxygen levels are maintained by a feedback mechanism that regulates the rate of RBC production.
    • When oxygen-carrying ability decreases (due to low RBC count, decreased hemoglobin, or reduced oxygen availability), the kidneys (and liver to a lesser extent) release erythropoietin.
    • Erythropoietin stimulates red bone marrow to produce more RBCs, thereby increasing the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity.

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    Description

    This quiz explores the various characteristics and composition of human blood, including its appearance, volume, and the components of plasma. It covers essential details such as blood pH, temperature, and the role of plasma proteins in the body.

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