40 Questions
What percentage of body weight is accounted for by blood?
8%
What is the main component of blood plasma?
Water
What is the function of fibrinogen produced by the liver?
Forming fibrin threads of blood clot
What is the average volume of blood in healthy adult males?
5-6 L
What is the primary function of plasma?
Transports nutrients and waste products throughout the body
What type of substances are produced by plasma cells during immune response?
Antibodies
What is the result of a decrease in red blood cells below the normal range?
Blood thins and flows more rapidly
What types of substances are included in non-protein nitrogenous substances?
Urea, uric acid, creatinine, and ammonium salts
What is the hallmark of anemia?
Blood oxygen levels that are inadequate to support normal metabolism
What is the main reason for anemia in hemolytic anemia?
Too many red blood cells destroyed
What is the genetic basis of thalassemia and sickle-cell anemia?
Production of abnormal hemoglobin
What is the treatment for acute hemorrhagic anemia?
Blood transfusion
What is the result of marrow destruction?
Anemia and impaired immunity
What is the primary cause of anemia in blood loss?
Rapid blood loss
What is the characteristic of erythrocytes in thalassemia and sickle-cell anemia?
Fragile and rupture prematurely
What is the purpose of stem cell transplantation in marrow destruction?
To provide a stopgap treatment until stem cells can be transplanted
What is the primary function of plasma osmotic pressure in the blood?
To maintain the levels of plasma solutes at life-sustaining levels
What is the primary function of erythrocytes in the body?
To transport respiratory gases
What is the name of the protein that makes red blood cells red?
Hemoglobin
What is the role of homeostatic mechanisms in maintaining plasma composition?
To keep the composition of plasma relatively constant
What is the normal range of hemoglobin in adult females?
12-16 g/100 ml
What is the primary function of erythrocytes in the blood?
To carry oxygen throughout the body
What is the function of the spectrin network in erythrocytes?
To maintain the biconcave shape
What is the term for the proportion of red blood cells in the blood?
Hematocrit
What is the percentage of carbon dioxide transported by erythrocytes?
20%
What is the shape of erythrocytes in the blood?
Disc-shaped
What is the iron ion bound to in the heme group?
A red ringlike structure
What is the purpose of stained smears in the examination of blood?
To observe the formed elements of blood
What is the role of plasma proteins in the blood?
To help maintain the levels of plasma solutes at life-sustaining levels
What is the function of hemoglobin in erythrocytes?
To bind and transport oxygen
What is the shape of erythrocytes that allows them to pass through capillaries?
Biconcave
What is the term for the solid components of the blood?
Formed elements
What is the primary reason why Mr. Chu's surgeon advises him to switch from aspirin to acetaminophen for pain control before his surgery?
To prevent bleeding complications
Why would a reticulocyte count of 5% indicate that Tyler's body is trying to compensate for anemia?
Because a high reticulocyte count indicates that the body is producing more red blood cells to compensate for anemia
What is the primary reason why Mr. Watkins was given PRBCs in addition to normal saline solution?
To provide oxygen to the tissues
Why was the physician able to use O negative blood before the results of the blood type test were obtained?
Because O negative blood is compatible with all blood types
What is the primary reason why Tyler's blood test indicated that he had polycythemia?
Because his hematocrit was 65%
What is the primary reason why paramedics infused a saline solution into Tyler?
To reduce blood viscosity and prevent clotting
Which of the following types of blood can Mr. Watkins receive?
A positive, A negative, and O negative
What is the primary purpose of transfusing PRBCs?
To provide oxygen to the tissues
Study Notes
Blood Composition
- Blood accounts for approximately 8% of body weight, with an average volume of 5-6 L (about 1.5 gallons) in healthy adult males and 4-5 L in healthy adult females.
- Blood is composed of plasma (about 90% water) and formed elements (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets).
- Plasma contains over 100 different dissolved solutes, including nutrients, gases, hormones, wastes, and proteins.
Plasma Functions
- Plasma helps maintain blood osmotic pressure (the pressure that helps keep water in the bloodstream).
- Plasma transports nutrients, hormones, and waste products throughout the body.
- Plasma composition is kept relatively constant by various homeostatic mechanisms.
Formed Elements
- The formed elements of blood are erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white blood cells), and platelets.
- Erythrocytes are disc-shaped and vastly outnumber the other types of formed elements.
- Leukocytes are spherical and stained in various colors, while platelets appear as scattered debris.
Erythrocyte Functions
- Erythrocytes are dedicated to transporting respiratory gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide).
- Hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells, binds easily and reversibly with oxygen, carrying most oxygen in the blood.
- Normal values for hemoglobin are 13-18 grams per 100 milliliters of blood (g/100 ml) in adult males and 12-16 g/100 ml in adult females.
Anemia
- Anemia is a condition where the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity is too low to support normal metabolism.
- It can be classified into three groups: blood loss, not enough red blood cells produced, or too many red blood cells destroyed.
- Anemia can be caused by blood loss, hemolytic anemia, or production of abnormal hemoglobin.
Hemolytic Anemia
- Hemolytic anemia occurs when erythrocytes rupture prematurely, leading to a shortage of red blood cells.
- Causes of hemolytic anemia include hemoglobin abnormalities, transfusion of mismatched blood, and certain bacterial and parasitic infections.
Hemoglobin Abnormalities
- Hemoglobin abnormalities, such as thalassemia and sickle-cell anemia, can be serious, incurable, and sometimes fatal diseases.
- These diseases occur when the globin part of hemoglobin is abnormal, leading to fragile and prematurely rupturing erythrocytes.
Blood Transfusions
- Blood transfusions can provide a stopgap treatment for anemia.
- PRBCs (packed red blood cells) can help restore blood iron composition to normal and enhance oxygen delivery to tissues.
- O negative blood can be used in emergency situations before the results of the blood type test are obtained.
This quiz covers the components of human blood, including red blood cells, antibodies, and plasma proteins. It also touches on the physical properties of blood and its percentage of body weight.
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