Structure + Function Of Blood

Question 1

Describe the structure of blood?

Answer 1

Consists of:
Plasma (fluid)
Cells=> red cells, white cells, platelets

Question 2

What is another name for red blood cells?

Answer 2

Erythrocytes

Question 3

Describe the structure of red blood cells?

Answer 3

Biconcave discs which gives larger surface area for exchange of oxygen + helps with flexibility when they go through capillaries
No nucleus + don’t contain DNA, RNA or mitochondria
Metabolically active despite no mitochondria

Question 4

What is another name for white blood cells?

Answer 4

Leukocytes

Question 5

What are 2 most common types of white blood cells?

Answer 5

Neutrophils

Lymphocytes

Question 6

Describe the structure of neutrophil?

Answer 6

Polymorphonuclear=> irregular, multi-lobed nucleus

Granulocyte=> prominent cytoplasmic granules

Question 7

What are 2 other types of granulocytes?

Answer 7

Eosinophil

Basophil

Question 8

Describe the structure of mononuclear cells?

Answer 8

Single round nucleus
Lacks granules
Large, regular nuclei

Question 9

What are 2 types of mononuclear cells?

Answer 9

Monocytes (largest type of WBC)

Lymphocytes

Question 10

What is another name for platelets?

Answer 10

Thrombocytes

Question 11

Describe the structure of platelets?

Answer 11

Clotting cells 
Cytoplasmic fragments 
No nucleus 
Membrane bound 
Contain granules

Question 12

Where do blood cells come from?

Answer 12

Mature blood cells are produced from stem cells in bone marrow

Question 13

What is plasma?

Answer 13

Fluid containing:
Water 
Salts 
Proteins 
Organic molecules e.g.metabolites, carbohydrates + lipids

Question 14

What are ionic constituents of plasma?

Answer 14

Positive ions (cations) e.g. sodium, potassium,calcium, magnesium + hydrogen ions 
Negative ions (anions) e.g. chloride, bicarbonate, phosphate, sulphate + organic anions

Question 15

What is difference between plasma and serum?

Answer 15

Plasma= fluid component of whole blood 
Serum= fluid left after blood clotting

Question 16

What are functions of blood?

Answer 16

Transport
Defence
Homeostasis

Question 17

What is function of erythrocytes?

Answer 17

Transport oxygen from lungs to body tissues
Help in removal of CO2 from body tissues to lungs
Most CO2 carried as bicarbonate in plasma
Major constituents is protein Hb
Hb binds oxygen
Carries it from lungs to tissues

Question 18

Describe the structure of haemoglobin?

Answer 18

Is protein tetramer made up of 4 polypeptide chains- 2 alpha globin chains and 2 beta globin chains
Each globin chain carries a haem molecule
Oxygen binds reversibly to iron atom by coordination
Process by which haemoglobin carries oxygen is no oxidation but it’s oxygenation

Question 19

Give an example of transport

Answer 19

Albumin acts as general purpose carrier

But many substances have specialised carrier e.g. thyroxine binding globulin, transferrin

Question 20

Immune system is divided into

Answer 20

Innate immune system

Adaptive immune system

Question 21

How is neutrophil involved in immunity?

Answer 21

Primary defence especially against bacteria + fungi
Phagocytose + kill bacteria + fungi
Main mediators of innate immunity

Question 22

How is lymphocytes involved in immunity?

Answer 22

Main mediators of adaptive immunity
Produce antibodies
Kill virus infected cells

Question 23

What do eosinophil do?

Answer 23

Kill parasites

Involved in allergic responses

Question 24

What do basophils do?

Answer 24

Kill parasites
Involved in allergic responses
Involved in inflammation

Question 25

What do monocytes (macrophages) do?

Answer 25

Phagocytosis of dead cells + pathogens When there is inflammation or something is going on in body,monocytes leave blood + move to tissues. When they are in tissues, we call them macrophages Digested products are shown to adaptive immune system Monocytes talk to innate + adaptive immune system

Question 26

What is plasma-immune defence?

Answer 26

Immunoglobulins = made by B lymphocytes and act as antibodies against pathogens Complement proteins= kill bacteria and other pathogens and cooperate with immunoglobulin and WBC

Question 27

What is role of platelets?

Answer 27

Major role is primary hameostasis Recognise damage at blood vessel wall Form a platelet plug Prevent/stop bleeding

Question 28

What is haemostasis plasma?

Answer 28

Fibrinogen is major plasma proteins Converted to fibrin, forms blood clot Clotting factor control process Fibrin clot reinforces primary platelet plug

Question 29

What is function of blood?

Answer 29

Homeostasis-keeping internal environment of body constant Maintaining pH Controlling distribution of water and solutes Distributing heat

Question 30

What is average life span of red blood cell?

Answer 30

~120 days

Question 31

What is diameter and thickness of red blood cells?

Answer 31

Diameter ~8um | Thickness ~2um

Question 32

Give examples of few common blood tests

Answer 32

``` Full Blood count Liver function tests Urea and electrolytes Blood glucose Lipid profile ```