Blood I

Question 1

What are the 3 main functions of the blood?

Answer 1

Transport, acid-base balance, and protection

Question 2

Name 5 transport roles that the blood plays.

Answer 2

Nutritive, respiratory (transport of gases), excretory, hormone transport, and temperature regulation.

Question 3

What is the normal pH of blood?

Answer 3

7.30-7.45

Question 4

What are the 3 major components of the blood? State their percentages.

Answer 4

Plasma (55%), buffy layer (<1%, WBCs and platelets), red blood cells (45%)

Question 5

What is the difference between studying blood in vivo and in vitro?

Answer 5

In vivo means that it’s studied in the intact individual, while in vitro means that it’s studied in a test tube or petri dish.

Question 6

What proportion of the body mass does blood make up?

Answer 6

7%

Question 7

What is the approximate quantity of blood in the standard physiological reference individual?

Answer 7

5 L

Question 8

Having a normal blood volume is called […]

Answer 8

Normovolemia

Question 9

Having a lower blood volume than normal is called […]

Answer 9

Hypovolemia

Question 10

Having higher blood volume than normal is called […]

Answer 10

Hypervolemia

Question 11

What is hematocrit?

Answer 11

It is the percentage of blood volume that is occupied by red blood cells.

Question 12

What is the normal hematocrit value?

Answer 12

Around 45%

Question 13

Knowing that blood has a volume of about 5 L and that normal hematocrit is 45%, what is the total blood volume occupied by red blood cells? By plasma?

Answer 13

2.25 L, 2.75 L

Question 14

What are the 5 major components of plasma?

Answer 14

Water, ions, nutrients and wastes, respiratory gases, and proteins (colloids)

Question 15

The plasma is […]% water

Answer 15

> 90

Question 16

What are the major and minor ions in plasma?

Answer 16

Major: Na+ Cl-
Minor: K+, HCO3-, Ca++, Mg++, PO4–

Question 17

What are the major nutrients found in the plasma?

Answer 17

Glucose, amino acids, lipids such as cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides.

Question 18

Give 2 examples of wastes in the plasma.

Answer 18

Urea and lactic acid.

Question 19

What are the major respiratory gases found in the plasma?

Answer 19

Oxygen, carbon dioxide

Question 20

What is the major difference in composition between plasma and interstitial fluid?

Answer 20

Plasma contains proteins, while ISF doesn’t.

Question 21

What are the main 3 proteins found in the plasma? State their concentration.

Answer 21

Albumins: 60%
Globulins: 35%
Fibrinogen: 5%

Question 22

Name 4 ways of separating plasma proteins.

Answer 22

1. Differential precipitation by salts
2. Sedimentation in ultracentrifuge
3. Electrophoretic mobility
4. Immunological characteristics

Question 23

What method of plasma protein separation is the most commonly used?

Answer 23

Electrophoretic mobility (electrophoresis)

Question 24

Explain how electrophoresis works.

Answer 24

The proteins in plasma carry a negative charge. A drop of plasma is placed on filter paper soaked with a fluid of the same pH. A current is applied, and different proteins will migrate towards the anode at their own characteristic rate. After a while, the different proteins will form bands that can be stained and identified.

Question 25

Rate of migration in electrophoresis is influenced by the [...] and [...] of each protein.

Answer 25

Number and distribution of charges Molecular weight

Question 26

Name the major specimens that can be seen in electrophoresis.

Answer 26

Albumin, fibrinogen, and globulins: α1, α2, β (beta), Y (gamma).

Question 27

Name the order in which the major blood proteins appear after electrophoresis.

Answer 27

From left to right: albumin, α1 globulin, α2 globulin, β globulin, fibrinogen, Y globulin

Question 28

After electrophoresis, you notice that there is no fibrinogen line visible. Why is this?

Answer 28

This is likely because electrophoresis was done with serum instead of plasma, and serum has fibrinogen removed because it causes clotting of the blood, making it harder to get a good result.

Question 29

After electrophoresis, you notice that the albumin peak is shorter than normal. What does this indicate? Explain why.

Answer 29

This indicates renal disease. This is because renal disease often increases the permeability of the kidney, allowing albumin, which is the smallest protein, to leave into the urine.

Question 30

After electrophoresis, you notice that the Y globulin peak is higher than normal. What does this indicate? Explain why.

Answer 30

This indicates that the person has a bacterial infection, as the antibodies produced in response are part of the gamma globulin fraction.

Question 31

Where are plasma proteins produced?

Answer 31

Fibrinogen, albumin, β globulin, α1 globulin and α2 globulin are produced in the liver. Y globulin is produced in lymphoid tissue because it includes antibodies.

Question 32

A diseased liver will resulted in [...] production of plasma proteins.

Answer 32

Decreased (except for Y globulin)

Question 33

Describe the shape of the three major plasma proteins.

Answer 33

Albumin: oval-shaped Fibrinogen: uniform, long fibers Globulin: heterogeneous

Question 34

State the molecular weight of the three major plasma proteins.

Answer 34

Albumin: 69 Fibrinogen: 350 Globulin: 90-800

Question 35

State the concentration with respect to the total % of colloids of the three major plasma proteins.

Answer 35

Albumin: 4 g/% Fibrinogen: 0.3g/% Globulin: 2.7 g/%

Question 36

What is the collective concentration of the three major plasma proteins?

Answer 36

7 g/%

Question 37

What is the major role of plasma proteins?

Answer 37

They determine the distribution of fluid between the plasma and the interstitial fluid by controlling transcapillary dynamics.

Question 38

Explain how plasma proteins determine the distribution of fluid between the plasma and the interstitial fluid

Answer 38

Because plasma proteins are non-diffusible, they exert an osmotic pressure that allow for the movement of fluid between the plasma and the ISF, which are otherwise identical in composition.

Question 39

The osmotic effect exerted by plasma proteins is called [...]

Answer 39

Colloidal osmotic (oncotic) pressure (COP)

Question 40

The COP of plasma proteins is equal to [...]

Answer 40

25 mm Hg

Question 41

If the COP increases, water will flow from the [...] to the [...]

Answer 41

ISF into the plasma