CVS Flashcards
What is gastrulation?
Mass movement and invagination of the blastula to form the ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm
What is a gene?
DNA which when expressed is transcribed into RNA which is translated into protein with a function
What is a transcription factor?
A type of protein which when expressed ‘turns on’ other gene expression
What is the definition of contractility?
The state of the heart which enables it to increase its contraction velocity, to achieve higher pressure, when contractility is increased (independent of load) it is the end-systolic pressure volume relationship
What is elasticity?
It is the myocardial ability to recover its normal shape after removal of systolic stress
What is compliance?
It is the relationship between the change in stress and the resultant strain. It is reflected at the end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship
What is diastolic distensibility?
It is the pressure required to fill the ventricle to the same diastolic volume
What are the constituents of blood?
45% cellular: mainly RBC but there are also WBC and platelets 55% plasma The haematocrit is 0.45
What are red blood cells?
They are simple cells with no nucleus or mitochondria. There is a membrane to enclose HB because alone it would cause renal failure. It carries the enzymes of glycolysis
What is haemoglobin?
A tetramer of 2 alpha and 2 beta chains. It consists of protein, heme and Fe2+ ion
What does haemoglobin do?
It allows oxygen to bind reversibly with Fe2+ in aqueous solution. It carries oxygen from lungs to tissues. The normal level is 12.5-15.5g/dL
How are white blood cells produced?
They are produced from immature precursor cells in the bone marrow derived from stem cells. The rate of production is under hormonal control by a series of growth factors. Mature cells circulate in the blood
What stimulates cells to proliferate and differentiate?
Hormonal growth factors: Epo = RBC, G-CSF = WBC Tpo = platelets
How long do blood cells last?
RBC last 120 days Platelets last 7-10 days WBC last 6 hours
What are primitive cells?
Most primitive cells are stem cells and the are normally in the bone marrow. They are pluripotent, they proliferate and differentiate into mature RBC, WBC and platelets. Precursor cells are not found in blood
What are platelets?
Small cytoplasmic anucleate cells that block up holes in blood vessels. The longer the bleeding time the worse the platelet function. They are made in bone marrow from megakaryocytes, polyploid cells, cytoplasm buds off to become platelets
What do platelets do?
They circulate in an inactive state. They bind to damaged blood vessels and adhere, change shape and degranulate and aggregate into a platelet plug. The normal levels is 149-499
What are neutrophils?
The most numerous WBC, lasts 10 hours. A lack of number or function results in recurrent bacterial infection
What do neutrophils do?
They phagocytose and kill bacteria. They release chemotaxins and cytokines, which are an inflammatory response
What are coagulation proteins?
A series of proteins (enzymes) that circulate in an inactive form that make blood clot. They convert soluble fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin polymer
What are plasma proteins?
They are soluble and in plasma component; carrier proteins for nutrients and hormones; immunoglobulins (antibodies); coagulation proteins and albumin
What is albumin?
A major protein in the plasma. They are produced in the liver so in liver disease not enough albumin is produced. It determines oncotic pressure so keeps intravascular fluid in the right space so lack of albumin results in oedema
What are immunoglobulins?
They are produced by plasma cells in response to non-self protein antigens. There are several classes: IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE
What keeps blood fluid?
Coagulation proteins and platelets circulate in inactive form so the blood doesn’t clot. Endothelial cells, anticoagulant & fibrinolytic pathways actively keep it fluid. It is a balance between keeping blood in vessels fluid and out of it clotted