Introduction to Blood Quiz

Study Notes

Plasma: Liquid component, comprises 50-60% of blood; contains water, proteins, and other solutes.
Cells in Blood:
- Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells): Carry oxygen and carbon dioxide; contain hemoglobin.
- Leucocytes (White Blood Cells): Defense against infections; five different types.
- Thrombocytes (Platelets): Aid in blood coagulation.

Respiratory Function: Transports oxygen from lungs to tissues and carbon dioxide back to lungs.
Excretory Function: Carries waste products to kidneys, lungs, skin, and gastrointestinal tract for elimination.
Nutritive Function: Distributes digested nutrients from intestines to body tissues.
Defensive Function: White blood cells engage in phagocytosis to protect against pathogens; increased count during infections indicates body defense mechanisms.
Coagulation: Blood clotting prevents excessive bleeding due to injury.
Acid-Base Equilibrium: Maintains pH balance through buffers, essential for cell and enzyme function.
Body Temperature Regulation: High water content and heat capacity of blood help maintain consistent body temperature.
Transport of Substances: Enables quick circulation of hormones, vitamins, and drugs throughout the body.
Protein Reserve: Plasma proteins can be utilized during extreme protein deficiency.

Water: Comprises 93-95% of plasma and 65-68% of red blood cells; critical for solvent properties and osmotic pressure.
Electrolytes: Includes sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, and bicarbonate; essential for maintaining pH and cell shape.
Proteins:
- Albumin (40-48 g/L): Maintains colloidal osmotic pressure and serves as a transport and pH buffer.
- Globulin (15-30 g/L): Functions in immune response and as a carrier protein.
- Fibrinogen (2-4 g/L): Key role in blood coagulation.
- Hemoglobin: Normal levels of 120-160 g/L (male) and 110-150 g/L (female) for gas transport.

Blood pH: Ranges from 7.35 to 7.45; regulated by lungs and kidneys.
Viscosity: Whole blood has 4-5 times higher viscosity than water; affects flow characteristics.
Osmotic Pressure: Drives osmosis; normal osmotic pressure is around 300 mmol/L, aiding in the balance of fluids between blood and interstitial spaces.

Represents the fluid portion of blood; key to overall composition and carries formed elements, with a typical ratio of plasma (55%) to cells (45%).
Centrifugation of blood samples allows separation of plasma from formed elements.