BMS201 || L1 Quiz (Part1)

Blood Physiology Overview

• Blood performs essential functions: oxygen and carbon dioxide transport, body temperature regulation, immune defense, and hemostasis.
• Average blood volume in a 70 kg male is approximately 5.6 liters.
• Cellular components make up about 45% of total blood volume.

Plasma Composition and Proteins

• Albumin is the primary plasma protein responsible for colloid osmotic pressure.
• Most plasma proteins are synthesized in the liver.
• Decreased albumin/globulin ratio can indicate liver disease.
• Plasma proteins play roles in blood clotting, hormone transport, and blood pH maintenance.
• Fibrinogen's main function is blood clotting and is critical during hemostasis.
• Transferrin is the plasma protein that transports iron in the blood.

Blood Properties

• Blood viscosity arises mainly from red blood cells and plasma proteins.
• The normal albumin/globulin ratio ranges from 1.2 to 1.6.
• Increased A/G ratio may occur in conditions like congenital agammaglobulinemia.
• The Donnan effect explains ion distribution across capillary walls.

Plasma Protein Dynamics

• Plasma proteins contribute to blood's buffering capacity through hydrogen ion binding.
• Labile reserve proteins in the liver can be mobilized quickly into plasma.
• Albumin transportation to interstitial fluid occurs via pinocytosis.

Albumin and Protein Synthesis

• Albumin degradation happens primarily in tissue macrophages.
• Amino acids for plasma protein synthesis come from dietary sources, tissue proteins, and breakdown of red blood cells.
• Plasma protein synthesis rates are generally considered moderate.
• "Dynamic state" refers to continuous breakdown and resynthesis of plasma proteins.

Blood Components and Functions

• Plasma lacks fibrinogen, differentiating it from serum.
• Gamma globulins are synthesized in lymph nodes and play a role in immune defense.
• Free fatty acids in the blood are primarily transported by albumin.
• Common negative acute phase proteins include albumin.

Erythrocytes and Anemia

• Red blood cells primarily transport oxygen; their average lifespan is around 120 days.
• Erythropoietin hormone stimulates red blood cell production.
• Anemia is characterized by a reduced number of red blood cells or hemoglobin, often caused by iron or vitamin deficiencies.
• Most prevalent anemia globally is iron-deficiency anemia.

Hematocrit and Related Measures

• Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in blood; healthy adult male range is approximately 40-50%.
• Severe anemia can lead to complications like heart failure, stroke, and increased infection risk, but not kidney stones.
• Treatment for anemia depends on its underlying cause and severity.

Relationship Between Plasma and Tissue Proteins

• Plasma proteins and tissue proteins maintain a relatively constant ratio of total content in the body.
• Tissue proteins are not used to synthesize plasma proteins.

Antibody Synthesis

• Primary site of γ globulin (antibody) synthesis is lymphatic tissue.

Functions of Albumin

• Albumin is essential for transporting hormones such as thyroxine and steroids.
• Not involved in transporting iron, which is a function of transferrin instead.

Colloid Osmotic Pressure

• Primarily due to albumin, which helps maintain osmotic balance in the blood.

Plasma Protein Characteristics

• Fibrinogen has the largest molecular weight among plasma proteins.

Plasma Protein Dynamics

• Continuous breakdown and resynthesis of plasma proteins are referred to as a dynamic state.

Functions of Blood

• Blood is responsible for regulating body temperature, transporting nutrients, and excreting metabolic waste products.
• Production of hormones is not a function of blood.

Blood Viscosity

• Main contributors to blood viscosity are red blood cells and plasma proteins.

A/G Ratio (Albumin to Globulin Ratio)

• A/G ratio decreases in conditions with increased globulin production, such as chronic inflammation or liver disease.

Buffering Action of Plasma Proteins

• Plasma proteins buffer changes in pH primarily due to the presence of free acidic and basic groups.

General Functions of Blood

• Blood transports oxygen and carbon dioxide, regulates body temperature, and defends against microorganisms.
• Hemostasis refers to the stopping of bleeding, an essential function of blood.

Blood Volume and Composition

• Average blood volume in a 70 kg male is about 5.6 liters.
• Cellular components make up approximately 45% of total blood volume.

Plasma Proteins

• Albumin is the plasma protein responsible for the majority of the blood's colloid osmotic pressure.
• Most plasma proteins are synthesized in the liver, with the exception of some immune-related proteins formed in lymphatic tissue.
• Albumin also aids in the transport of fatty acids, hormones, and vitamins in the blood.

Albumin/Globulin Ratio

• A decreased A/G ratio may indicate liver disease, whereas an increased ratio can suggest congenital agammaglobulinemia.
• The normal A/G ratio is approximately 1.2 - 1.6.

Blood Viscosity

• Blood viscosity primarily arises from red blood cells and plasma proteins.
• Factors affecting plasma protein concentration include nutritional and kidney function but not blood type.

Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells)

• Primary function is the transport of oxygen, facilitated by hemoglobin.
• The average lifespan of a red blood cell is around 120 days, with breakdown primarily occurring in the spleen and liver.

Anemia

• Anemia is characterized by a reduced number of red blood cells or hemoglobin levels.
• Common causes include iron deficiency and Vitamin B12 deficiency, with iron-deficiency anemia being the most prevalent globally.
• Symptoms of anemia mainly arise from decreased oxygen delivery to tissues.
• Treatment depends on the underlying cause, severity, and patient health.

Assessment and Measurement

• Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in the blood, with a normal range for adult males approximately between 40-50%.

Plasma Proteins Dynamicity

• Plasma proteins undergo continuous breakdown and resynthesis, referred to as a "dynamic state."
• Their buffering capacity is primarily due to the presence of free acidic and basic groups, which help maintain blood pH.

Additional Points on Proteins

• Gamma globulins, also known as antibodies, play a crucial role in immune defense and are primarily synthesized in lymphatic tissues.
• The colloid osmotic pressure of plasma mainly arises from albumin, while fibrinogen is involved in blood clotting.

Transport Functions

• Transferrin carries iron, while ceruloplasmin transports copper.
• Understanding the transport functions of various plasma proteins is essential for grasping how substances circulate in the bloodstream.

Blood Volume and Functions

• Average blood volume in a 70 kg man is approximately 5600 ml.
• General functions of blood include transport of gases, immune defense, regulation of temperature, but not hormone production.
• Normal white blood cell (WBC) count ranges from 4,000 to 11,000 cells per cubic millimeter (cmm).
• Most plasma proteins are synthesized in the liver.

Plasma Proteins

• Main function of albumin is to maintain blood volume and oncotic pressure.
• Transferrin is the plasma protein responsible for iron transport.
• Normal albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio is between 1.2 and 1.6.

Conditions Affecting A/G Ratio

• A decreased A/G ratio is often seen in starvation conditions.
• Fibrinogen is the primary contributor to blood viscosity among plasma proteins.
• Plasma proteins do not directly produce red blood cells.

Edema and Plasma Proteins

• Impairment of oncotic pressure can lead to edema (swelling) in tissues.
• Increased globulin levels might be observed in chronic infections.

Plasma Protein Synthesis and Starvation

• During starvation, the body relies mainly on tissue proteins for plasma protein synthesis.

Importance of Plasma Proteins

• Lipid-soluble substances like hormones bind to plasma proteins to enhance solubility and reduce kidney excretion.
• Plasma proteins contribute to blood's buffering capacity by having acidic and basic groups to accept or donate protons.

Blood pH and Plasma Proteins

• A decrease in blood pH results in lower buffering capacity and changes in plasma protein binding.

Labile Reserve Proteins

• Labile reserve proteins in the liver can be quickly mobilized to replace plasma proteins in case of acute loss.

Dynamic State of Plasma Proteins

• Plasma proteins are continuously broken down and resynthesized, indicating their dynamic state.

Transport Mechanisms

• Carbon dioxide is transported by plasma proteins as carbamino compounds, while red blood cells transport it primarily as bicarbonate ions.

Relationship Between Protein Types

• There is a reversible equilibrium between plasma proteins and tissue proteins.

Consequences of Nephrotic Syndrome

• Loss of albumin in urine during nephrotic syndrome leads to decreased oncotic pressure and volume overload.

Blood Viscosity and Pressure

• Increased blood viscosity typically results in increased blood pressure.
• A/G ratio increases due to conditions such as congenital agammaglobulinemia.

Complement System Role

• The complement system enhances the immune response by amplifying antibody activity and aiding phagocytic cells in pathogen destruction.

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