Body fluids and components Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is the function of the blood plasma?
Function:
1. take nutrients, hormones and
proteins to parts of body that
need it
2. Removes cellular waste from the
body
3. Carries all parts of blood
through circulatory system
Plasma proteins:
Albumins: 60%
▪ Produced in the liver
▪ help in osmotic pressure.
Globulins: 36%
▪ alpha, beta, and gamma types
▪ Alpha and beta are produced in the
liver and help in the transport of
lipids and fat soluble vitamins
▪ Gamma is produced by lymphatic
tissue (antibodies)
Fibrinogen: 4%
▪ Produced in the liver
▪ Help in blood coagulation
which conditions may require plasma transfusions?
haemophilia a and b
The most important blood
gases
Oxygen
▪ Carbon dioxide
Plasma nutrients include:
Amino acids
▪ Simple sugars
▪ Nucleotides
▪ Lipids
▪ Fats (triglycerides)
▪ Phospholipids
▪ Cholesterol
Nonprotein nitrogenous
substances
These are molecules containing
nitrogen but are not proteins
▪ In plasma they include:
▪ Urea – product of protein
catabolism; about 50% of nonprotein
nitrogenous substances
▪ Uric acid – product of nucleic acid
catabolism
▪ Amino acids – product of protein
catabolism
▪ Creatine – stores phosphates
▪ Creatinine – product of creatine
metabolism
S tru ctur e of
haemoglobin
Has four subunits, each
having one polypeptide
chain and one heme
group.
✓ Two identical (alpha)
polypeptide chains and
✓ two identical (beta)
polypeptide chains form a
complete molecule.
* Heme consists of a
porphyrin ring surrounding
an iron atom.
RBC production
BC production is called
erythropoiesis
▪ Occurs in bone marrow.
▪ Stimulated by:
Low oxygen level
Blood loss
Lung disease
▪ Dietary factors
Vitamin B12
Folic acid
Iron
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Red bone marrow
Pernicious anaemia
▪ In your stomach, vitamin B12 (aka folate) is combined with a
protein called intrinsic factor.
▪ This mix of vitamin B12 and intrinsic factor is then
absorbed via the gut.
▪ Most people with vitamin B12 anaemia have underdeveloped red
blood cells that are larger than normal (megaloblastic anaemia).
Formed element
White Blood Cell
Leukocyte
▪ Help in protection against
disease
▪ Produced as a result from
bone marrow being
stimulated by:
Colony stimulating factor
interleukins
There are five types of
WBCs in two categories:
▪Granulocytes
▪ Neutrophils
▪ Eosinophils
▪ Basophils
▪Agranulocytes
▪ Lymphocytes
▪ Monocytes
Neutrophils
▪ Light purple granules in
acid-base stain
▪ Multi-lobed nucleus
▪ First to arrive at
infections
▪ Phagocytic
▪ 54% - 62% of
leukocytes
▪ Elevated in bacterial
infections
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Eosinophils
▪ Deep red granules in
acid stain
▪ Bi-lobed nucleus
▪ Moderate allergic
reactions
▪ 1% - 3% of leukocytes
▪ Elevated in parasitic
worm infestations and
allergic reactions
30
Basophils
▪ Deep blue granules in basic
stain
▪ Release histamine
▪ Release heparin
▪ Less than 1% of
leukocytes
▪ Similar to eosinophils in
size and shape of nuclei
31
Monocyte
Largest of all blood cells
* Spherical, kidney-shaped,
oval or lobed nuclei
* Leave bloodstream to
become macrophages
* 3% - 9% of leukocytes
▪ Phagocytize bacteria, dead
cells, and other debris
32
Lymphocyte
▪ Slightly larger than RBC
▪ Large spherical nucleus
surrounded by thin rim of
cytoplasm
▪ T cells and B cells
▪ Both important in
immunity
33
WBC count
Increase of WBC count is
leukocytosis.
Appendicitis
Emotional disturbances
▪ Decrease of WBC count is
leukopenia.
Typhoid fever
Influenza
Measles
Mumps
Chicken pox
AIDS
Differential WBC count:
▪ Neutrophils
▪ Eosinophils
▪ Basophils
▪ Monocyte
▪ Lymphocytes
54%-62%
1%-3%
1%
3%-9%
25%-33%
Platelets
▪ Thrombocytes
▪ Arise from megakaryocytes
▪ Develop in response to the hormone thrombopoietin
▪ Platelets count 150,000-450,000
▪ Thrombocytopenia:
Chemotherapy
Cardiac surgery
Infectious diseases
Blood coagulation
(hemostasis)
Blood vessel spasm
▪ Triggered by pain receptors, platelet
release, or serotonin
▪ Smooth muscle in blood vessel contracts
▪ Platelet plug formation
▪ Triggered by exposure of platelets to
collagen
▪ Platelets adhere to rough surface to form a plug
▪ Blood coagulation
▪ Triggered by cellular damage and blood
contact with foreign surfaces
▪ A blood clot forms as soluble fibrinogen
changes to insoluble threads of fibrin, which
trap blood cells
Blood groups
Antigens: a chemical that stimulate the
production of antibodies. (Found
on the surface of RBC).
[agglutinogens]
▪ Antibodies: a protein that reacts against
a specific antigen. (found in plasma)
[agglutinins]
▪ Agglutinations: reaction between
antigens and antibodies resulting in
clumping of RBC.
38
Blood groups
▪ Based on the presence or absence of two major antigens on red
blood cell membranes
▪ Antigen A
▪ Antigen B
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Rh blood group
Rh positive –
presence of
antigen D or
other Rh
antigens on the
red blood cell
membranes
Rh negative –
lack of these
antigens
Blood - function
▪ Transport of dissolved gases, nutrients, hormones, and metabolic waste.
▪ Restricting fluid losses at injury sites.
▪ Defending against toxins and pathogens.
▪ Stabilizing body temperature.
▪ Regulating the pH and ion composition of interstitial fluids
throughout the body.
Regulating the pH and ion composition
▪ Buffer systems in blood plasma: plasma proteins(haemoglobin),
phosphates, bicarbonate, carbonic acid buffers
▪ Example: the bicarbonate-carbonic acid buffer system
✓ Most of the carbon dioxide transported by the blood (approximately
70%) is transported as bicarbonate ions in plasma
✓Bicarbonate is regulated in the blood by sodium
✓High levels of bicarbonate in extracellular fluids
Regulating the pH and ion composition
Bicarbonate-carbonic acid buffer system
▪ Sodium bicarbonate buffer when in contact with strong acid eg:
hydrochloric acid
NaHCO3 + HCl → H2CO3+NaCl
(sodium bicarbonate) + (strong acid) → (weak acid) + (salt)
▪ Carbonic acid when in contact with strong base
H2CO3 + NaOH→HCO3- + H2O
(weak acid) + (strong base)→(bicarbonate) + (water)
