Plasma

Question 1

What is serum?

Answer 1

Plasma minus the clotting factors- takes longer to prepare

Question 2

What is plasma?

Answer 2

liquid component of blood that holds blood cells of whole blood in suspension

Question 3

What are the functions of plasma?

Answer 3

Clotting
Immune defence
Osmotic pressure
Metabolism
Endocrine
Excretion

Question 4

What type of drug can be used to stop the blood from clotting?

Answer 4

Anticoagulant

Question 5

What 2 components do serum separator tubes have and what is the function?

Answer 5

Silica coating to induce clotting
Gel layer to form physical barrier between cells and serum

Question 6

What separates the red cells from the plasma after the addition of an anticoagulant and centrifugation

Answer 6

Buffy coat

Question 7

What is apheresis?

Answer 7

When blood of donor is collected and passed through centrifuge to separate particular cellular components

Question 8

How is serum generated

Answer 8

Letting blood clot for several minutes (less coagulation factors and trapping cells and platelets within clot)

Question 9

What is a buffy coat made out of?

Answer 9

Leukocytes and platelets

Question 10

What are the differences between plasma and serum samples

Answer 10

Plasma faster to prepare
Serum cleaner

Question 11

Name the 4 fluid compartments in humans

Answer 11

Intracellular (55%)
Interstitial (36%)
Blood Plasma (7%)
Transcellular (2%)

Question 12

Where is interstitial fluid found?

Answer 12

Outside of cells- lymph drains

Question 13

Why does interstitial fluid play an important role?

Answer 13

Carrying oxygen and nutrients to cells and acts as a vehicle for removal of cellular waste products

Question 14

How is interstitial fluid drained and what is it known as when it is drained?

Answer 14

Through lymphatic vessels
Known as lymph

Question 15

What do transcellular fluids include?

Answer 15

Cerebrospinal fluid
Occular Fluids

Question 16

What is the most abundant plasma protein?

Answer 16

Albumin

Question 17

Where is serum albumin produced?

Answer 17

Liver

Question 18

What are the functions of serum albumin?

Answer 18

Transport of lipids, hormones & ions
Maintaining osmotic pressure of plasma
Transport of fatty acids released from adipose tissue lipolysis around body for tissues to use in beta oxidation

Question 19

What is A1AT

Answer 19

Alpha 1 Antitrypsin

Question 20

Where is A1AT produced?

Answer 20

Liver

Question 21

What does A1AT do?

Answer 21

It inhibits the action of proteases such as those released by neutrophils

Question 22

What do neutrophils release during inflammation?

Answer 22

Neutrophil elastase?

Question 23

What is the effect of defective A1AT to the lungs?

Answer 23

Neutrophil elastase not inhibited by A1AT.
Damages tissue of the lungs causing loss of elasticity and respiratory problems

Question 24

What is the function of Alpha 2 macroglobulin

Answer 24

Broadly active protease inhibitor which inactivates fibrinolysis

Question 25

What is the function of Haptoglobin (Alpha-2)

Answer 25

Binds to Hb released from erythrocytes and spleen removes the complex

Question 26

What can be used to diagnose haemolytic anaemia?

Answer 26

Haptoglobin measurement

Question 27

Give examples of beta globulins

Answer 27

C3 C4 Transferrin

Question 28

What is the role of transferrin?

Answer 28

Transportation of iron

Question 29

Where is transferrin generated?

Answer 29

Liver

Question 30

What are the 2 main gamma globulins?

Answer 30

Immunoglobulins C-Reactive Protein

Question 31

What is the most plentiful cation in plasma

Answer 31

Na +

Question 32

What balances the charge of intracellular K+

Answer 32

Extracellular Cl- Various anions (proteins, phosphorylated proteins, nucleic acids)

Question 33

Why is there typically an increase in intracellular Ca 2+

Answer 33

Signalling events due to opening of calcium channels allowing influx from extracellular Release of intracellular stores

Question 34

How are electrolyte gradients maintained?

Answer 34

Na+/K+ ATPase active transport

Question 35

How many Na and K+ leave or enter the cell?

Answer 35

3 Na+ out 2 K+ in

Question 36

What is the use of Mg 2+

Answer 36

Important cofactor in many enzymes

Question 37

What is the main difference between composition of plasma and interstitial fluid?

Answer 37

Plasma contains more proteins

Question 38

How can we therapise plasma?

Answer 38

Immunoglobulins can be used to transfer immunity between people Donors are screened for high titres of IgG against pathogen which is isolated from plasma and concentrated IV immunoglobulin G protects against common pathogens e.g MMR Provide passive immunity to specific pathogen after high risk exposure

Question 39

How can we therapise plasma in COVID?

Answer 39

COVID patients develop antibodies against virus and after recovery, blood is donated to recover antibody-rich plasma which is tested for strength (affinity) and number of antibodies, and if levels are fine, given to other patients

Question 40

What is convalescent plasma

Answer 40

Plasma harvested from patient who has recovered from disease to be given to patient who is infected

Question 41

What does convalescent plasma contain?

Answer 41

High levels of polyclonal antibodies which recognise the pathogen

Question 42

What is convalescent plasma used for

Answer 42

Hepatitis B Rabies Prophylactic treatment