Blood Physiology Flashcards
(167 cards)
Describe blood
Blood is the only fluid tissue in the body. It is a specialised connective tissue of mesoderma origin in which formed elements are suspended in a non-living fluid matrix called plasma
Other names for blood and why?
Fluid of life: because it carries oxygen from the lungs to the cells and CO2 from the cells to the lungs
Fluid of growth: because it carries nutritive substances from the digestive system to the tissues of the body and hormones from the endocrine glands to where they’re needed.
Fluid of health: because it protects the body against disease and gets rid of unwanted substances by transporting them to excretory organs like kidney.
Characteristics of blood
Colour:
- Scarlet red: oxygenated
- Dark red: deoxygenated
pH: 7.35 - 7.45
Temperature: Slightly higher than normal body temperature.
Density:
- For males: 1.052 - 1.063
- For females: 1.050 - 1.058
Volume:
- For females: 4 - 5L
-For males: 5 - 6L
- 4 - 5 times more viscous than water
Weight: 100mls of blood weighs about 106g
Osmolarity: 300mOsm for 0.3Osm
About 6 - 8% of tbw
Salinity: 0.85%
Functions of blood
*Transport functions
- Distributed O2 from the lungs to the cells of the body.
- Carries metabolic wastes from the cells to the organs of excretion
- Transports nutritional substances from the GI tract to the tissues of the body.
- Transports hormones from their site of synthesis to where they’re needed in the body.
- Regulatory functions
- Body fluid
_ Body pH - Regulates blood pressure
- Body temperature
- Body protection
- Protective functions
- Activates plasma protein and platelets
- Synthesis of antibodies
- Haemostasis
_ Fights against diseases
Composition of blood
- Plasma (60%)
- Formed elements (40%)
Composition of blood
- Plasma (60%)
- Formed elements (40%)
Characteristics of white blood cells
Larger in size
Nucleated
Short lifespan
Irregular in shape
Colourless
Describe Basophils
- Make up <1% of WBC (least abundant)
- Produce inflammatory and allergic reactions
- They store and synthesize histamine which is important in allergic reactions
- Basophils enter the body tissues to become mast cells which help blood flow to injured tissues by releasing histamine
Describe Monocytes
- Largest of WBC
- Dark kidney bean-shaped nucleus
- Highly phagocytotic
- Accounts for about 2 - 8% of TWBC counts
- Fights off bacteria, fungi and mycobacterium such as mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Migrate to the tissues to become macrophages and bear various names depending on their locations.
Characteristics of neutrophils
- Also called polymorphs
- Phagocytosis, contains several lysosomes
- Diapedesis
- Stain light purple with neutral dye
- Has several lobes in nucleus
- Granules are small and numerous in the cytoplasm (gives a coarse appearance)
- 50-70% of total WBC count
- Highly mobile/ very active
- Lifespan is 12-48 hours
- Its number increases with bacterial infection, burns, inflammation and stress.
- Neutrophil granules contain enzymes such as elastase, proteases, metalloproteinase, myeloperoxidases which are involved in the destruction of bacteria.
- Major function is to engulf and phagocytose bacteria and also involved in acute inflammation.
Characteristics of WBC
- Colourless
- Nucleated
- Short lifespan
- Larger size
- Irregular in shape
- Phagocytosis
- Diapedesis (extravasation): can exit circulatory system through capillary bed
- Capable of ameboid movement
- ## Chemotaxis (attracted to certain chemicals like those from damaged cells).
Primary cytokine responsible for erythrocyte production?
Erythropoietin (EPO)
Where are leucocytes formed?
The red marrow of many bones
Lymphatic tissue
Types of WBC
*Granulocytes
- Neutrophils
- Eosinophils
- Basophils
*Agranulocytes
- Lymphocytes
- Monocytes
Normal total WBC count
2,500 - 11,000 / cubic mm
Differential count of WBC?
Gives the relative percentage of each white blood cell.
Absolute value of WBC
Gives the actual number of each white blood cell / cubic mm
Describe neutrophils
- Also called polymorphs
- Stain bright purple with neutral dye
- Granules are small & numerous - coarse appearance
- Several lobes in nucleus
- Phagocytosis, many lysosomes present
*Lifespan of 12 - 48 hours
- About 50 - 70% of TWBC
- Major function is to engulf and phagocytose bacteria and also involve in acute inflammation
- Very active / mobile
- Numbers increase when there’s bacterial infection, inflammation, burns & stress.
- Diapedesis
*Neutrophil Granules contain enzymes such as myeloperoxidases, elastases, proteases, metalloproteinase which are involved in destruction of bacteria
Eosinophils
- Also known as acidophiles
- Can be found in the lining of respiratory and digestive tract
- 1 - 4% of TWBC
- Main function is protection against infections caused by parasitic worms and involvement in allergic reactions
- Granules are large and numerous
- Nuclei with two lobes
- Number increases with worm infestation
- Help initiate and sustain inflammation and can activate T-cells.
- Chemotoxic, can kill parasites
- Responds to diverse stimuli including tissue damage, allergens, allograft, tumour & infections
- Lifespan of 8 - 12 days
Constituent of plasma
Water: 90 - 92%
Plasma proteins: 6-7% (Albumin, globulin, clotting proteins)
Organic molecules: Glucose, amino acids, fatty acids
Electrolytes: Na, K, Ca, Cl, HCO3
Others: Urea, Lactic acid, CO2, O2, Creatinine
Describe plasma
Plasma is a straw coloured sticky fluid matrix, the liquid component of blood and on which formed elements is suspended.
Function of plasma
*Haemostasis - blood coagulation
- Transport mechanism: alpha albumin, beta globulin transports hormones, enzymes, gasses, urea, etc.
*Defense mechanism of blood: immunoglobulin
*Acid-base balance
*Maintenance of osmotic pressure in blood
*Makes blood viscous
- Provides suspension stability of RBC
- Reserve proteins
Characteristics of albumins
- Is the most abundant plasma protein (60%)
- Single polypeptide chain with 585 amino acids and 17 disulphide bonds
- Plasma level of albumin is about 3.5 - 5.0 g/dl
- Half-life of 20 days
- Important blood buffer
- Carries some substances through the circulation
- Maintains osmotic pressure of the blood
Characteristics of Globulins