Blood

Question 1

What is blood made of?

Answer 1

Plasma (55%) - includes plasma, protein, enzymes etc
Erythrocytes-red blood cells (45%)
Leucocytes - white blood cells <1%
Thrombocytes - platelets <1%

Question 2

What is the structure of red blood cell (erythrocytes)?

Answer 2

• Biconcave discs
• Flexible membrane
• Lack nucleus and organelles

Question 3

What do red blood cells contain?

Answer 3

Contain haemoglobin-a protein to attract O2

Question 4

Where is haemoglobin found?

Answer 4

Cytosol of the cell

Question 5

What is the process of making red blood cells called?

Answer 5

Erythropoiesis

Question 6

What is the first stage of erythropoiesis?

Answer 6

Starts in the bone marrow as a pluripotent stem cell

Question 7

What is the second stage of erythropoiesis?

Answer 7

Differentiates into pro erythroblast

Question 8

What is the third stage of erythropoiesis?

Answer 8

Synthesis of haemoglobin and nucleus expelled = reticulocyte

Question 9

What is the fourth stage of erythropoiesis?

Answer 9

Reticulocyte matures over 1-2 days after leaving bone marrow = erythrocyte

Question 10

When does erythropoiesis take place?

Answer 10

Stimulated by low O2

Question 11

What cells detect low O2?

Answer 11

Special cells in the kidney (Juxtaglomerular)

Question 12

When low O2 is detected, what is secreted into the blood?

Answer 12

Erythropoietin (hormone) which regulates right levels of red blood cells

Question 13

What does Erythropoietin do?

Answer 13

Increases speed of maturation process in bone marrow to produce more RBCs

Question 14

What are leucocytes?

Answer 14

White blood cells

Question 15

What is the structure of leucocytes?

Answer 15

They have a nucleus
Their plasma membranes have proteins called major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens used for immunological purposes

Question 16

What is the purpose of leucocytes?

Answer 16

Fight off bacteria and viruses and any pathogen that our body needs to get rid off

Question 17

What are the different types of leucocytes?

Answer 17

Granular and agranular

Question 18

What do granular leucocytes contain?

Answer 18

Granules which are tiny sacs that contain various enzymes, compounds and other components that are used to defend against pathogens

Question 19

What are the characteristics of agranular leucocytes?

Answer 19

Monocytes which develop into macrophages in tissue

Question 20

Give 3 examples of Granular leucocytes

Answer 20

Eosinophils, basophils and neutrophils

Question 21

Give 2 examples of agranular leucocytes

Answer 21

Lymphocytes and monocytes

Question 22

Where do monocytes and granular leucocytes develop?

Answer 22

Myeloid stem cells

Question 23

Where do lymphocytes develop?

Answer 23

Lymphoid stem cells

Question 24

How long do lymphocytes live?

Answer 24

For months/years, most just for few hours/days

Question 25

What do granular leucocytes combat?

Answer 25

They combat infection by phagocytosis

Question 26

What do lymphocytes predominantly combat?

Answer 26

Immune responses

Question 27

When leucocytes leave blood stream to deal with invading pathogens, what happens to them?

Answer 27

Granulocytes - never return Lymphocytes - freely circulate in and out of blood vessels

Question 28

What is thrombocytes?

Answer 28

Platelets

Question 29

How are platelets formed?

Answer 29

Formed from fragments of megakaryocytes under influence of thrombopoietin in red bone marrow

Question 30

What is the shape of platelets?

Answer 30

Disc shaped

Question 31

What organelles do platelets have?

Answer 31

They contain many vesicles but have no nucleus

Question 32

What is the purpose of platelets?

Answer 32

Involved in haemostasis (prevent or stop bleeding) by forming platelet plug, vasospasm and blood clotting

Question 33

How are blood groups formed?

Answer 33

Surface of erythrocytes have genetically predetermined coating of glycoproteins and glycolipids

Question 34

What do the coatings on the surface do?

Answer 34

They act as antigens - have immunogenicity and reactivity to antibodies

Question 35

What is blood groups categorised by?

Answer 35

By the presence or absence of antigens on the cell surface

Question 36

What are the 2 main blood groups?

Answer 36

ABO and Rhesus

Question 37

What antigens do blood type A/B or both have?

Answer 37

A/B or AB

Question 38

What antigens do blood type O have?

Answer 38

None

Question 39

Which blood type is know as the universal recipient?

Answer 39

AB blood type as they have no anti-bodies for A, B or even O

Question 40

What blood type is known as universal donor?

Answer 40

Blood type O as they have anti-bodies for both. Can mix with other bloods without being attacked