38 Questions
What is the percentage of plasma in whole blood in males?
55%
What is the primary function of plasma proteins?
To create colloid osmotic pressure
What is the percentage of water in plasma?
90-92%
What is the function of inorganic ions in plasma?
To maintain membrane excitability
Which of the following is NOT a function of plasma?
Storage of energy
What is the percentage of plasma proteins in plasma?
6-8%
What is the term for the pressure created by plasma proteins?
Colloid osmotic pressure
What is the function of hormones in plasma?
To regulate various bodily functions
What is the characteristic of Megaloblastic anemia?
Immature cells
What is the primary cause of Renal anemia?
Inadequate erythropoetin secretion
What is the characteristic of Polycythemia Vera?
Tumour like condition of bone marrow
What percentage of the plasmalemma is composed of lipid?
40%
What is the basis for ABO blood grouping system?
Antigenic sites on RBC
How many major ABO classification groups are there?
4
What is responsible for the red color of Red Blood Cells (RBCs)?
The interaction of hemoglobin, iron, and oxygen
How many RBCs are produced per second?
2-3 million
What is the main component of RBCs?
Hemoglobin
How long do RBCs typically survive in circulation?
120 days
What is the function of carbonic anhydrase in RBCs?
To buffer the conversion of CO2 to HCO3-
What is the structure of hemoglobin?
One protein group (globin) and four iron-containing heme groups
What is the function of hemoglobin in RBCs?
To transport oxygen and carbon dioxide
What is the normal range of hemoglobin levels in adult males?
13-18 grams/100 ml
What is the primary signal for megakaryocyte production?
Thrombopoietin (TPO)
What is the function of α-granules in platelets?
Participating in secondary hemostasis
Where are platelets removed from circulation?
Spleen and liver
What is the function of glycoprotein in platelet plasma membrane?
Repulsing adherence to normal endothelium
What is the average lifespan of platelets?
10 days
What is the function of dense-granules in platelets?
Containing Adenosine di-phosphate (ADP)
What is the meaning of the term 'hemostasis'?
The combination of cellular and biochemical events that function together to keep blood in the liquid state within the blood vessels
What is the effect of thrombopoietin on megakaryocytes?
Increasing the number of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow
What triggers the activation of Factor XII in the intrinsic pathway?
Contact with exposed collagen/foreign surface in the presence of Kallikrein and high molecular weight Kininogen
What is the role of Kallikrein in the intrinsic pathway?
Facilitating the interaction between Factor XII and high molecular weight Kininogen
What is the result of the activation of Factor X in the intrinsic pathway?
Conversion of prothrombin to thrombin
What is the difference between the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways?
The extrinsic pathway is shorter and more rapid, while the intrinsic pathway is longer and slower
What is the role of high molecular weight Kininogen in the intrinsic pathway?
Facilitating the interaction between Factor XII and collagen/foreign surface
What is the result of the activation of Factor VII in the extrinsic pathway?
Conversion of prothrombin to thrombin
What is necessary for the activation of Factor XII in the intrinsic pathway?
Contact with exposed collagen/foreign surface in the presence of Kallikrein and high molecular weight Kininogen
What is the final step in the blood coagulation cascade?
Formation of a fibrin-stabilized mesh
Study Notes
Blood Composition
- Blood composition in males: 45% formed elements, 55% plasma
- Blood composition in females: 42% formed elements, 58% plasma
- Formed elements: 45% in males, 42% in females (RBCs, WBCs, platelets)
- Buffy coat: less than 1% (platelets and WBCs)
- Plasma: 55% in males, 58% in females (liquid component of blood)
Plasma Composition
- Water: 90-92%
- Inorganic substances: about 1%
- Inorganic constituents: Na+, Cl-, Ca2+, HCO3-, K+, other ions
- Organic substances: plasma proteins (6-8%), nutrients (glucose, amino acids, lipids, vitamins), waste products (creatinine, bilirubin, nitrogenous substances like urea)
- Other constituents: dissolved gases (O2, CO2), hormones
Functions of Plasma
- Medium for transportation of materials in the blood
- Absorbs and distributes heat generated metabolically within tissues
- Inorganic ions important for membrane excitability, osmotic distribution of fluid between ECF and cells, and buffer pH changes
Plasma Proteins
- Largest group of plasma solute
- Many functions of plasma depend on them
- Types: albumin, globulins, fibrinogen
- General functions: creation of colloid osmotic pressure, maintaining plasma volume
Red Blood Cells (RBCs)
- Characteristics: no nucleus or DNA, no organelles, have glycolytic enzymes and carbonic anhydrase
- Production: about 2-3 million RBCs produced per second, about 200 billion per day
- Half-life: about 120 days
- Removal: by phagocytic cells in spleen, liver, and bone marrow
Hemoglobin
- Main component of RBCs
- Responsible for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide
- Structure: consists of protein group globin and four iron-containing, non-protein heme groups
- Each heme group reversibly carries one O2 molecule
- One hemoglobin carries four molecules of oxygen
- About 250 million hemoglobin per cell
Hemoglobin A
- Alpha chain: 141 amino acid residues
- Beta chain: 146 amino acid residues
- Other types: hemoglobin A1-2alpha subunits 2 gamma subunits, hemoglobin A1C (glycosylated hemoglobin A)
Normal Hemoglobin Levels
- Infants: 14-20 grams/100 ml
- Adult females: 12-16 grams/100 ml
- Adult males: 13-18 grams/100 ml
Other Functions of RBCs
- Carbon dioxide transport: RBCs have carbonic anhydrase that buffers the conversion of CO2 to bicarbonate (HCO3-)
- RBCs also carry nitric oxide (NO), a vasodilator, from the lungs to tissues
Anemia
- Types: B12 deficiency anemia, renal anemia (inadequate erythropoietin secretion), hemorrhagic anemia (blood loss)
- Polycythemia: characterized by elevated circulating RBCs
- Primary polycythemia: tumor-like condition of bone marrow, uncontrolled erythropoiesis
- Secondary polycythemia: erythropoietin-induced adaptive mechanism to improve blood O2 carrying capacity
ABO Blood Group System
- RBC membrane: lipid (40%), carbohydrates (10%), protein (50%)
- Antigenic sites: glycosylated extracellular domain of glycophorin A and Band 3 have antigenic sites that form the basis for ABO blood grouping
- Antigens: A and B antigens, inherited as Mendelian dominants
- ABO classification: four major groups (A, B, AB, O)
Platelets
- Structure: two major intracellular granules (α-granules and dense-granules)
- α-granules: contain platelet thrombospondin, fibrinogen, fibronectin, platelet factor 4, Van Willebrand factor (VWF), platelet-derived growth factor, β-thromboglobulin, coagulation factor V and VIII
- Dense-granules: contain ADP, ATP, and serotonin
- Platelets functional for an average of 10 days, removed from circulation by tissue macrophages (especially in the spleen and liver)
Platelet Production
- Primary signal for megakaryocyte production: thrombopoietin (TPO)
- Other molecular signals for megakaryocyte differentiation: GM-CSF, IL-3, IL-6, IL-11, chemokines (SDF-1, FGF-4), and erythropoietin
Hemostasis
- Derived from two Greek words: hemo (blood) and stasis (standing)
- Combination of cellular and biochemical events that function together to keep blood in the liquid state within the blood vessels and prevent blood loss following injury to the vessels
- Intrinsic pathway: activated when Factor XII (Hageman factor) is activated
- Extrinsic pathway: shorter route when tissue is damaged
Learn about the composition of human blood, including the percentage of plasma, buffy coat, and red blood cells in males and females. Discover the components of blood plasma, including water and inorganic and organic substances.
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