Nakamura Human Anatomy Ch 18

Question 1

Composition of blood

Answer 1

Contains cellular and liquid components
•A specialized connective tissue
–Blood cells: formed elements
–Plasma: fluid portion 55% of whole blood
•Hematocrit (Hct; percentage of the volume of a blood sample occupied by cells)
–Males: 42–52%
–Females: 37–47%

Question 2

Blood plasma

Answer 2

-Straw-colored, sticky fluid portion of blood
•Approximately 90% water
•Contains ions, nutrients, wastes, and proteins
–Three main proteins: Albumin, globulins, and fibrinogen

Question 3

Formed elements

Answer 3

•Blood cells

–Erythrocytes (45% of whole blood), Buffy coat: leukocytes and platelets (

Question 4

Erythrocytes

Answer 4

-red blood cells
-Oxygen-transporting cells (also carry CO2): 8 µm in diameter
-capillary size is similar, only let one cell through at a time
•Have no organelles or nuclei (so don’t use oxygen themselves
-Hemoglobin: oxygen-carrying protein
•Biconcave shape: 30% more surface area
•Live 100–120 days
•Originate in the bone marrow

Question 5

Amount of erythrocytes in the body

Answer 5

•Most numerous of the formed elements (less than this number =anemia)
–Females: 4.3–5.2 million cells/cubic millimeter
–Males: 5.2–5.8 million cells/cubic millimeter

Question 6

Leukocytes

Answer 6

-white blood cells
-4000–11,000/cubic millimeter
•Protect the body from infectious microorganisms
•Two types of leukocyte
–Granulocytes and agranulocytes

Question 7

Granulocytes

Answer 7

•Basophils

• eosinophils
• neutrophils

Question 8

Neutrophils

Answer 8

• nucleus multilobed
• inconspicuous cytoplasmic granules
• phagocytize bacteria
• life span: 6hrs to a few days
• 3,000 to 7,000 per cubic millimeter

Question 9

Blood circulation

Answer 9

Powered by the pumping action of the heart
•Functions of blood
–Carries respiratory gases, nutrients, and hormones
–Helps body regulate temperature
•Blood volume
–Males: 5-6 liters
–Females: 4-5 liters

Question 10

Eosinophils

Answer 10

• nucleus bilobed
• red cytoplasmic granules
• 100 to 400 per cubic millimeter
• turn off allergic responses and kill parasites
• lifespan: 8-12 days

Question 11

Basophils

Answer 11

about 0.5% of all leukocytes (20-50)
–Nucleus: usually two lobes
-large blue purple cytoplasmic granules
-Granules secrete histamines
–Function in inflammation mediation

Question 14

Agranulocytes

Answer 14

Lymphocytes

Monocytes

Question 15

Lymphocytes

Answer 15

– compose 20–45% of WBCs (1500 to 3000 per cubic millimeter)
–The most important cells of the immune system
–Nucleus: stains dark purple, spherical or indented)
–Effective in fighting infectious organisms
–Act against a specific foreign molecule (antigen)
-lifespan: hours to years

Question 16

Types of lymphocytes

Answer 16

•Two main classes of lymphocyte
–T cells: attack foreign cells directly
–B cells: multiply to become plasma cells (type of B cell at stage secrete antibodies)
•Secrete antibodies

Question 17

Monocytes

Answer 17

– compose 4–8% of WBCs (100-700)
–The largest leukocytes
–Nucleus: kidney shaped
–Transform into macrophages
     •Phagocytic cells(engulf bacterial virus)
-lifespan: months

Question 18

Platelets

Answer 18

Cell fragments
–Break off from megakaryocytes
•Function in clotting of blood

Question 19

Most to least populous cell order

Answer 19

Never: neutrophils 
Let: lymphocytes
Monkeys: monocytes
Eat: eosinophils
Bananas: basophils

Question 20

Function of T lymphocyte

Answer 20

• binds to target cell, secretes proteins that lyse the cells membrane, to and signals the cell to die
• T lymphocyte detaches
• target cell dies by apoptosis

Question 21

Function of a B lymphocyte

Answer 21

• gives rise to a plasma cell, which secretes anitibodies
• antibodies bind to antigen on bacteria, marking the bacteria for destruction
• antibody coated bacteria are avidly phagocytised (by macrophage)

Question 22

Blood cell formation

Answer 22

Hematopoiesis (hemopoiesis): process by which blood cells are formed
•100 billion new blood cells formed each day
•Bone marrow: located within all bones
–Red marrow: actively generates new blood cells
•Contains immature erythrocytes
•Remains in epiphyses, girdles, and axial skeleton
-yellow marrow: less active, comes from fat

Question 23

Cell lines in blood formation

Answer 23

-All blood cells originate in bone marrow
•All originate from one cell type: blood stem cell
-The old red cells are removed from the body by the spleen and liver

Question 24

Disorders of the blood

Answer 24

-Disorders of erythrocytes
–Anemia: erythrocyte levels or hemoglobin concentrations are low (O2 deficiency)
•Disorders of leukocytes
–Leukemia: a form of cancer

Question 25

Staining blood cells

Answer 25

Acidic dye: eosin, stains pink

Basic dye: methylene, stains blue and purple