Blood Flashcards
(47 cards)
Hematocrit
(percentage) of RBC’s in a volume of blood
hyperemia
increased bloodflow
characteristics of blood
- > specialized connective tissue
- > primary function = substance distribution
- > composed of blood cells suspended in blood plasma
how is blood a non-newtonian fluid
(a fluid whose viscosity changes based on applied stress or force; magic sand)
- > it’s both a solid (cells) and a liquid (plasma)
composition of blood blasma
90% water
10% solutes which include
- > respiratory gases
- > albumin
- > globulin
- > clotting proteins
- > amino acids
- > hormones
- > nutrients and electrolytes
- > metabolic enzymes
hematocrit of males vs females
Males
0.40 - 0.50 (40-50%)
Females
0.37 - 0.46 (37-47%)
What are reticulocytes and they make up what % of total RBC
they’re immature RBC that are found in the bone marrow and they mature in the bloodstream
- > makes up 1.0-1.5% of total RBC count
What is Hemoglobin? How much is in a males blood compared to a female
oxygen/CO2 carrying molecule
Males
- > 140-165 g/L
Females
- > 120-150 g/L
characteristics of erythrocytes
AKS RBC
- > no nuclei or orgnanelles (not “true” cell)
- > primarily for respiratory gas exchange
- > contains hemoglobin
- > makes up around 45% of total blood volume
explain the structure of RBC and how conformation can affect the cell
the shape of RBC’s are maintained by proteins, especially spectrin inside the inside of the RBC plasma membrane, which allows for RBC flexibility
- > continuous deformation for RBC to fit through small capillaries leads to an accumulation of membrane damage, which eventually triggers cell destructions/apoptosis
hematopoisis
also known as hemopoiesis
blood cell formation
- > occurs in red bone marrow
explain hematopoietic stem cells
also known as hemocytoblasts
all formed blood cells arise from the same type of stem cells (hematopoietic stem cells)
- > pleuripotential; stem cells that can only become certain types of cells
leukocytes
non-specific immune cells; white blood cells
- > basophils
- > neutrophils
- > eosinophils
- > monocytes
- > lymphocytes
what determines whether a pleuripotent stem cell will become a lymphoid stem cell or a myeloid stem cell
hormonal and chemical messengers control cell differentiation

formation of erythrocytes
- controlled by the hormone erythropoietin which is produced by the kidneys
- > the trigger for the response which releases erythropoietin is through monitoring of blood gases at the renal level - the hormone is released into the blood and travels to bone marrow and stimulates the formation of erythrocytes
describe the first few days of a erythrocytes
- > during a 3-5 day period, pleuripotent stem cells go through a few differentiations in the bone marrow (controlled by hormones) to produce an immature RBC (reticulocyte)
describe the process of erythropoisis
- > hemoglobin synthesis and iron accumulation occurs
- > degredation of the nucleus and ejection of MOST organelles occurs
- > the reticulocyte will then mature into a functional red blood cell in the bloodstream over the course of 2 days
- > erythrocytes are formed from reticulocytes and all remaining ribosomes and organelle structures will be destroyed
reticulocyte
immature red blood cell which develop in bone marrow and mature in the bloodstream
lifespan of a erythrocyte
around 100-120 days
why is a small amount (around 1%) of circulating erythrocytes prematurly destroyed and replaced everyday
they become trapped in the small blood vessels of the spleen (major blood filtration system) and liver and are degraded through normal apoptosis process
products of degraded erythrocytes
- iron
- > transported by blood plasma and stored in the liver
OR
- > transported to the liver and excreted through bile (if iron levels are sufficient/excessive)
2. heme - > degraded to biliruben which is sent to the liver and is released into bile, then converted into urobilinogen and excreted in feces or urine
3. globin - > broken down into amino acids (used for protein syn.)
characteristics of leukocytes
white blood cells
- > complete cells
- > primarily for body defense (immune activity)
- > WBC production can be increased when needed
- > carried mainly in loose connective tissue (blood) and/or lymphoid tissues (lymph nodes)
Classes of leukocytes
Granulocytes
- > neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils
Agranulocytes
- > lymphocytes, monocytes
Neutrophils
type of granulocyte
- > most numerous of the WBC (around 47-63%)
- > destroys bacteria through the production and release of oxydizing substances (i.e. H2O2) along with the release of defensin
- > attracted to inflammation (damage to cell tissue initiates inflammation)

