ANTIGEN Flashcards
(41 cards)
What is an antigen?
An antigen refers to any substance that the body recognizes as foreign.
What do antibodies do in relation to antigens?
Antibodies function as recognizers of antigens and are present in the plasma, floating around to detect foreign substances.
What is agglutination?
Agglutination occurs when antibodies detect foreign red blood cells (RBCs) and cause them to clump together, which can be life-threatening.
What is a transfusion reaction?
A transfusion reaction happens when a person receives blood that is not of their type.
What are the ABO blood groups based on?
The ABO blood groups are based on which of the two antigens, A or B, a person inherits.
What blood type has the absence of both A and B antigens?
Type O has the absence of both A and B antigens.
What blood type has both A and B antigens?
Type AB has both A and B antigens.
What are the antibodies present in each blood type?
Type A has anti-B antibodies, Type B has anti-A antibodies, Type AB has no antibodies, and Type O has both anti-A and anti-B antibodies.
Why is it important to cross-match blood before transfusion?
Cross-matching is important to prevent transfusion reactions that can lead to agglutination.
What is the significance of Type AB blood?
Type AB is known as the universal recipient because it theoretically has no anti-A or anti-B antibodies.
What is the significance of Type O blood?
Type O is considered the universal donor because it has no antigens.
What is Rh blood grouping based on?
Rh blood grouping is based on the presence of the Rh factor, originally identified in Rhesus monkeys.
What happens if there is Rh incompatibility?
Rh incompatibility can lead to the destruction of red blood cells, known as hemolysis.
What is hemolysis?
Hemolysis is the rupture of red blood cells, releasing hemoglobin into the plasma.
What can cause hemolysis?
Hemolysis can occur due to hemolytic anemia, transfusion reactions, and the presence of anti-Rh antibodies.
What happens when an Rh-negative individual is exposed to Rh-positive blood?
The Rh-negative individual will develop anti-Rh antibodies, leading to hemolysis upon subsequent exposure to Rh-positive blood.
What is Rh incompatibility in pregnancy?
Rh incompatibility occurs when an Rh-negative mother has an Rh-positive fetus, leading to potential complications in future pregnancies.
What happens during the first pregnancy of an Rh-negative mother with an Rh-positive fetus?
During the first pregnancy, there is no transfusion reaction as maternal blood does not yet have anti-Rh antibodies.
What can happen in subsequent pregnancies if an Rh-negative mother has another Rh-positive child?
The mother’s anti-Rh antibodies can cross the placental barrier and attack the Rh-positive child, which can be fatal.
• refers to any substance that the body recognizes as foreign.
Antigen
• occurs when these antibodies will detect foreign RBCs. So what they do is they cause the foreign RBCs to clump together
Agglutination
• is what happens when a person is being transfused blood that is not of his or her type. Okay.
Transfusion reaction
absence of both antigens is your
Type O
Presence of both antigens is
Type ab
