The Blood

Question 1

What is blood in terms of tissue types?

Answer 1

Liquid connective tissue

Question 2

What does blood transport?

Answer 2

Oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, nutrients, waste products and heat

Question 3

One function of blood is protection. How?

Answer 3

Clotting, immunity/defence and inflammation

Question 4

What does the blood regulate?

Answer 4

Fluid, pH, temperature and others including hormones

Question 5

What are the properties of blood?

Answer 5

Viscosity (resistance to flow) and osmolality (concentration)

Question 6

On average how many litres of blood do adults have?

Answer 6

4-6L

Question 7

What does centrifuging do?

Answer 7

Separates cells from plasma.

Question 8

What is the haematocrit?

Answer 8

The percentage of total volume of blood made up of cells

Question 9

What are the normal haematocrit values for males and females?

Answer 9

Females 37-47% and Males 40-54%

Question 10

What are the contents of blood plasma?

Answer 10

Nutrients, gases, electrolytes, hormones, plasma proteins, waste products.

Question 11

What are some of the plasma proteins?

Answer 11

Albumin (the most abundant), Fibrinogen, clotting factors and globulins.

Question 12

Where is albumin produced?

Answer 12

The liver

Question 13

Where is fibrinogen and clotting factors produced?

Answer 13

The liver

Question 14

Where are globulins produced?

Answer 14

Plasma cells

Question 15

What is the other name for red blood cells?

Answer 15

Erythrocytes

Question 16

What is the role of erythrocytes?

Answer 16

Gas transport (oxygen and carbon dioxide)

Question 17

Why are erythrocytes disc shaped?

Answer 17

To increase surface area: volume ratio

Question 18

Do erythrocytes have a nucleus and organelles?

Answer 18

No

Question 19

What is the average life span of an erythrocyte?

Answer 19

120 days

Question 20

What enzyme is inside erythrocytes?

Answer 20

Carbonic anhydrase

Question 21

What does carbonic anhydrase do?

Answer 21

Produces carbonic acid from carbon dioxide and water

Question 22

How many haem groups/protein chains are there a haemoglobin?

Answer 22

4

Question 23

Each globin chain of haemoglobin contains haem with Fe2+ to…

Answer 23

Bind oxygen

Question 24

How does foetal haemoglobin differ from adult haemoglobin in terms of affinity for oxygen?

Answer 24

The foetal haemoglobin has a higher affinity for oxygen

Question 25

What are the normal ranges for red cell count for both men and women?

Answer 25

3.8-5.8 for women and 4.5-6.6 for men

Question 26

What is erythrocyte sedimentation rate?

Answer 26

The time it takes for RBC’s to settle.

Question 27

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is increased by…

Answer 27

Cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease and severe/chronic infection

Question 28

What is the other name for white blood cells?

Answer 28

Leukocytes

Question 29

There are two types of leukocytes (WBC’s), what are they?

Answer 29

Granulocytes and Agranulocytes

Question 30

There are 3 types of granulocytes, what are they?

Answer 30

Neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils

Question 31

There are 2 types of Agranulocytes, what are they?

Answer 31

Lymphocytes and monocytes

Question 32

When would neutrophils increase in number?

Answer 32

During bacterial infections e.g. appendicitis and haemorrhage – phagocytosis

Question 33

When would eosinophils increase in number?

Answer 33

During parasitic infections or allergies such as asthma, hayfever, tapeworm and hook worm infections

Question 34

When would basophils increase in number?

Answer 34

During chickenpox, sinusitis, diabetes and haemolytic anaemia.

Question 35

When would lymphocytes increase in number?

Answer 35

During infections and immune responses to destroy foreign cells and virally infected cells

Question 36

When would monocytes increase in number?

Answer 36

Malaria and typhoid

Question 37

What do monocytes become?

Answer 37

Tissue macrophages

Question 38

The increase of white blood cells is known as…

Answer 38

Leukocytosis

Question 39

Name the functions of platelets

Answer 39

Secrete clotting factors, factors for endothelial repair and vasoconstrictors. Form temporary platelet plugs. Dissolve old blood clots. Attract WBC’s to sites of inflammation.

Question 40

Which tissues can produce blood cells after birth?

Answer 40

Red bone marrow and lymphoid tissue

Question 41

Which hormone stimulates red cell production? Where is it made?

Answer 41

Erythropoietin from the kidney.

Question 42

Which cell types give rise to all cell types?

Answer 42

Stem cells

Question 43

How long is the development of an erythrocyte?

Answer 43

3-5 days

Question 44

What are reticulocytes?

Answer 44

Young red cells

Question 45

What do macrophages in the spleen and liver do?

Answer 45

Digest cell components. Convert haem to bilirubin which becomes bile product in faeces.

Question 46

Describe the negative feedback cycle of erythrocyte homeostasis.

Answer 46

Drop in RBC count leads to hypoxemia to kidneys which increases production of erythropoietin to stimulate bone marrow to increase RBC count in 3-5 days.

Question 47

What can cause hypoxia?

Answer 47

Lung disease, smoking, high altitude, increase in exercise and bleeding.

Question 48

What substances do we need for red blood cell production?

Answer 48

Iron, B12 and folic acid.

Question 49

Where is iron stored in the body?

Answer 49

Liver

Question 50

What is anaemia?

Answer 50

Problems with RBC’s or haemoglobin

Question 51

What can cause anaemia?

Answer 51

Decrease RBC production or haemoglobin synthesis, inadequate nutrition, loss of blood, RBC destruction or something is wrong with the cells e.g. sickle cell.