Chapter 17: Blood - Composition and Function

Flashcards covering blood components, plasma proteins, formed elements, and the roles of plasma constituents.

What are the two principal components of blood?

Plasma (the liquid component) and formed elements (erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes).

What are the three principal functions of blood?

Transportation, protection, and homeostasis.

What does blood transport?

Nutrients such as glucose, respiratory gases such as oxygen, and other substances throughout the body.

Which blood cells are involved in immune responses?

Leukocytes (white blood cells).

Which formed element is involved in blood clotting?

Thrombocytes (platelets).

What pH range do buffers maintain in the blood?

7.35 to 7.45, with an average of 7.4.

Why must blood pH and temperature be tightly maintained?

To prevent denaturation of pH- and temperature-sensitive proteins and to maintain homeostasis.

What is the principal component of blood?

Water.

Blood is a specialized form of which tissue?

Connective tissue.

Approximately how much blood is in an adult?

About 4–6 liters, accounting for roughly 7–8% of body weight.

What are the two major components of plasma?

Water and plasma proteins.

What are the three major classes of plasma proteins?

Albumins, globulins, and fibrinogen.

Which plasma protein is most abundant?

Albumins.

What are the main functions of albumins?

Buffer pH, generate osmotic pressure to prevent edema, and serve as carrier proteins for lipid-soluble substances.

What is bilirubin and how is it transported?

A toxic byproduct of hemoglobin breakdown transported in the blood bound to albumin.

Into what subtypes are globulins divided?

Alpha globulins, beta globulins, and gamma globulins.

What are alpha globulins and give examples?

Carrier proteins; examples include transcortin and HDL.

What does transcortin transport?

Cortisol.

What is HDL and what does it do?

High-density lipoprotein; transports cholesterol in the blood.

What is transferrin and what does it bind?

A beta globulin that binds and transports iron.

What functions do beta globulins serve besides iron transport?

They transport cholesterol via LDL, transport sex hormones, and some act as complement proteins or clotting factors.

What are gamma globulins?

Antibodies produced by plasma cells involved in immune responses.

What is the role of fibrinogen in coagulation?

It is converted to fibrin to help form a platelet plug during clotting; removal leaves serum.

What is serum?

The liquid portion of plasma after fibrinogen is removed during clotting.

List the minor components of plasma.

Electrolytes (e.g., sodium, bicarbonate); nutrients (glucose, amino acids, fatty acids); wastes (CO2, urea, bilirubin); respiratory gases (O2, CO2, nitrogen); regulatory substances (enzymes and hormones).