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Structure & Function of Blood Flashcards

1
Q

What is blood composed of?

A

Plasma (fluid) and Cells

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2
Q

What are the 2 major types of leukocytes?

A
  • lymphocytes
  • neutrophils

WBCs are described as being polymorphonuclear (lymphocytes) and/or
granulocytes (neutrophils)

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3
Q

How are granulocytes named?

A

Granulocytes take the name of the dye they affiliat ebest with. The dye used to stain them are basic dyes with an acidic dye called eosin so
Basophil - high affinity fo rbasic dye
Eosinophil - high affinity for eosin (acidic)
Neutrophil - stains weakly with both

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4
Q

Which cells contribute to the composition of blood?

A

White blood cells (WBCs)
Red Blood Cells (RBCs)
Platelets

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5
Q

How do erythrocytes aid CO₂ removal from tissues via blood?

A

Most CO₂ carried out of tissues is dissolved in plasma as bicarbonate via a reaction with water
Carbonic anhydrase (RBC enzyme) helps CO₂:
1. Dissolve in plasma in tissues
2. Undissolve from solution in lungs

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6
Q

What is deoxyhaemoglobin?

A

Unsaturated haemoglobin (lost all O₂) - dark red colour

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7
Q

How does blood separate when centrifuged?

A

Red cells centrifuge to the bottom
White cells form a thin brown layer on top of red cells (Buffy coat)
Plasma centrifuges at top; has a straw colour

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8
Q

How do Neutrophils provide immunity?

A

Neutrophils:

  • Phagocytose , killing bacteria and fungi
  • main mediators of innate immunity (recognise foreign pathogens)
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9
Q

What does polymorphonuclear mean?

A

Irregular multi lobed nucleus

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10
Q

How can we use a microscope to observe blood cells?

A

Smear blood on a microscope slide

Stain blood as WBC are colourless

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11
Q

Describe a neutrophil

A

Can be both polymorphs or granulocytes

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12
Q

What are the types of agranulocytes?

A

Monocytes - biggest WBcs with lobed kidney shape nucleus

Lymphocytes - vary in size; normally have small room of cytoplasm

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13
Q

What are platelets?

A

Cytoplasmic fragments generated from large cells in bone marrow

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14
Q

What are granulocytes?

A

Prominent cytoplasmic granules of which there are 3 types:

  • Neutrophils
  • Eosinophil
  • Basophils
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15
Q

What is the scientific name of RBCs?

A

Erythrocytes

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16
Q

What is the scientific name given to platelets?

A

Thrombocytes

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17
Q

What are mononuclear (agranulocytes) cells?

A

Large regular nuclei lacking granules

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18
Q

Describe the structure of platelets

A
  • No nucleus
  • Membrane bound
  • Contain granules which are released during clotting
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19
Q

Describe the structure of RBCs

A
  • Biconcave discs
  • No nucleus and no RNA/DNA or mt (RNA only present in
    early erythrocytes)
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20
Q

How are erythrocytes adapted to aid O₂ transport?

A

A major constituent of RBC is Haemoglobin protein

- carries O₂ from lungs

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21
Q

Why are RBCs technically not cells?

A

Don’t contain nucleus so red corpuscle is a more accurate term

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22
Q

How can stem cells be used to treat certain blood diseases?

A

By bone marrow transplantation (BMT)

Only used in life threatening situations as it is a very strenuous process

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23
Q

How are blood cells formed?

A

Mature blood cells are produced from stem cells in the bone marrow
- bone marrow contains many immature cells

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24
Q

How do RBCs generate energy?

A

They are metabolically active and generate energy via glycolysis

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25
Which anions are present in plasma?
Mainly Cl- | bicarbonate, Phosphate , sulphate and other organic anions present
26
How do erythrocytes aid transport?
Erythrocytes transport O₂ from the lungs to the rest of the body Aid removal of CO₂ from tissues back to lungs
27
What is blood plasma?
The fluid component of whole blood
28
What is the function of the globin chains in haemoglobin?
Each globin chain carries a haem molecule
29
How ar esubstances transported from the blood into cells?
Many substances have specialised carriers e.g. - Thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) - Transferrin (main ion transporting protein)
30
What is the scientific name of WBCs?
Leukocytes
31
How do plasma proteins avoid the toxicity of metal ions?
By binding ions tightly to protein makes it harder for bacteria to metabolise & use the ions
32
What is oxyhaemoglobin?
haemoglobin fully saturated with O₂ - bright red colour
33
What is the role of albumin plasma protein?
Albumin acts as a general purpose carrier
34
How is blood used for transport?
Blood carries O₂ and nutrients to tissues Removes CO₂ / waste products from tissues Transports substances (e.g. hormones) from production site --> action site
35
What are bone marrow stem cells?
Very immature cells without lobes | They aren't toitpotent but give rise to any blood cell lineages (pluripotent)
36
What are the functions of blood?
- Transport - Defence - Homeostasis
37
What is blood Serum?
The fluid left after blood clotting has occurred | - a lot of proteins are lost after clotting so a watery residue is left
38
Describe the structure of Haemoglobin
- Protein tetramer made of 4 polypeptide chians - 2 β globin chains - 2 α globin chains
39
What cellular defence does blood provide?
- Immunity : WBC and plasma proteins - Clotting - (haematostasis) by platelets and plasma proteins
40
What is the disadvantage of plasma proteins carrying metal ions?
metal ions carried: Mg2+, Fe2+, Cu2+, Ca2+ some of these ions are toxic e.g. Cu2+ form free radicals Fe2+ aid bacterial metabolism => septicemia
41
What are the positive ionic constituents of plasma?
Mainly Na+ Cells rich in K+, extracellular rich in Na+ K+, Ca2+, Phosphate, Mg2+, and H+ also present
42
What is a haem molecule?
Haem is a prosthetic group (not a protein) | Attaches to a protein to aid its function
43
What are the contents of plasma fluid?
``` Water Salts Proteins Organic molecules - metabolites - carbohydrates - lipids ```
44
How do Lymphocytes aid immunity?
Lymphocytes: - main mediators of adaptive immunity - produce antibodies specific to infection - kill virus infected cells
45
What substances are carried by plasma proteins?
Plasma proteins carry metal ions and poorly soluble substances e.g - dietary lipids coated with apolipoproteins -> globules - lipid soluble hormones and vitamins
46
What is the role of Eosinophils in immunity?
Eosinophils: - kill parasites - involved in allergic responses
47
What is the average size of an erythrocyte?
Diameter ~ 8 um | Thickness ~ 2 um
48
Which proteins are present in the plasma?
There are 1000's of different proteins present in plasma | Complex albumin protein makes up >90% of plasma protein content
49
Which fluid is used during blood tests?
Some blood tests require unclotted blood (plasma) - use antcoagulant e.g. EDTA Other tests work better with serum than plasma
50
What kind of substances can plasma carry?
The plasma can carry soluble metabolite sin solution e.g. glucose
51
What is the normal Hb saturation of a healthy person?
Normal - 98% saturation
52
How much of the plasma is composed of plasma proteins?
Plasma proteins make up around 7-9% of plasma in normal circumstances
53
How much Haemoglobin is present in erythrocytes?
In each red cell there are around 300,000,000 Hb molecules | very [high] - almost 50% of space in red cell occupied by Hb
54
What is the function of the Haem molecule in haemoglobin?
Haem holds a ferrous Fe2+ molecule Oxygen reversibly binds to Fe2+ via weak coordinate bond O₂ can easily attach / detach
55
What is the use of pulse oximetry?
Measure Hb colour determining hypoxia in patients | - routinely used on post surgery patients as opiates given to relieve pain which limit breathing = higher hypoxia risk
56
How is methaemaglobinemia caused?
If iron ion in haem gets oxidised from Fe2+ --> Fe3+ (Ferric) O₂ can no longer bind
57
How do monocytes (macrophages) aid immunity?
Monocytes: | - phagocytosis of dead cells and pathogens
58
What is the function of basophils in immunity?
Basophils: - kill parasites - involved in allergic responses - involved in inflammation
59
How is Ht calculated?
Ht = volume of cells / total volume
60
What is Haematocrit (Ht)?
Volume of cells in cntrifuged blood compared to total blood volume PCV PCV - packed cell volume
61
What is the average life span of RBCs?
120 days
62
How does blood plasma provide defence?
Plasma defence achieved via Immunity: - immunoglobulins (Ig): made by B lymphocytes, act as antibodies against pathogens - Complement proteins: kill bacteria and other pathogens by cooperating with Igs and WBCs regarded as part of innate immunity
63
How do complement proteins work with WBCs to kill pathogens?
If a complement protein can't kill a pathogen itself it can attract WBCs to aid phagocytosis
64
What is the normal total blood volume?
``` An average (70kg male) total blood volume = 5 litres Plasma volume = 2.5 - 3 litres ```
65
What is the major role of platelets?
Primary haemostasis - recongise damaged blood vessel walls - form platelet plugs - prevent/stop bleeding
66
What factors are controlled for plasma homeostasis?
pH [protein] [ion]
67
What is homeostasis?
Maintaining the internal body environment - pH 7.4 - distribution of solutes + water - heat distribution
68
How does plasma aid haemostasis?
There are plasma proteins available in plasma that aid haemostasis: - Fibrinogen - forms fibrin protein to form clot clotting factors + platelets control process Fibrin clot reinforces primary platelet plug
69
What tests can be carried out on plasma?
U&E's - Urea & Electrolytes - checks kidney functions - kidney regulates electrolytes in plasma LFTs - Liver Function Test - checks correct no. of components in liver (albumin, serum, clotting factors) - liver damage causes release of liver enzymes into plasma which is also detected
70
What is the significance of plasma analysis?
Analysis of plasma is an essential part of diagnosis and treatment
71
Which disorders disturb plasma homeostasis?
- kidney disease - liver disease - lung disease - cardiovascular failure - endocrine organs failure

Pathology 1 (20 decks)

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