Components of Blood and Immune System

These flashcards cover key concepts, definitions, and functions related to the components of blood and the immune system.

What are the primary components of blood?

Blood consists of plasma, red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets.

What is hematocrit?

Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in the blood, which is about 45% in a healthy individual.

What is the primary function of erythrocytes?

The primary function of erythrocytes (red blood cells) is to transport oxygen (O2) throughout the body.

What role do albumins play in blood plasma?

Albumins help establish osmotic pressure in the capillaries.

Describe the structure and lifespan of red blood cells.

Red blood cells are biconcave disks, enucleated, and live for about 120 days.

What triggers the production of erythropoietin?

Low oxygen levels in the blood trigger the kidneys to release renal erythropoietic factor (REF), leading to increased red blood cell production.

What is the main function of leukocytes?

Leukocytes (white blood cells) primarily function to destroy invading microbes and produce antibodies.

How do platelets function in blood clotting?

Platelets adhere to injured sites, change shape to form a plug, and release substances that promote clotting.

What is agglutination in the context of blood types?

Agglutination is the clumping of blood cells that occurs when antibodies attach to antigens on incompatible blood cells.

What is the significance of the Rhesus factor?

The Rhesus factor determines if blood type is Rh+ (presence of Rh antigen) or Rh- (absence of Rh antigen) and can impact blood transfusions and pregnancies.

What is the role of T cells in the immune response?

T cells identify and signal an attack on intruders and also help activate B cells to produce antibodies.

What happens during an anaphylactic reaction?

Anaphylactic reactions involve the release of histamine, increased capillary permeability, tissue swelling, and can lead to severe symptoms like difficulty breathing.

What is the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)?

MHC is a protein fingerprint unique to each person that helps the immune system recognize self vs. non-self during tissue transplantation.

What is the function of macrophages in the immune system?

Macrophages engulf and destroy pathogens through phagocytosis and also help initiate inflammatory responses.

What condition is caused by the rejection of transplanted organs?

Organ transplant rejection occurs when the immune system recognizes the transplanted tissue as foreign due to differences in MHC.

What substances are involved in the process of blood clotting?

Key substances involved in blood clotting include prothrombin, thrombin, fibrinogen, fibrin threads, and calcium.

Function of Blood

a.) transport of gases, nutrients etc

b.) maintaining water balance

c.) maintaining body temperature

d.) maintaining a pH

e.) protection from diseas

Where are all cells produced

in the bone marrow, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

What are Globulins

Globulins are a group of proteins in blood plasma that play roles in immune response and transport of substances. They include antibodies and transport proteins such as transferrin.

What makes red blood cells and white blood cells different

Red blood cells (erythrocytes) primarily transport oxygen,with no nucleus, while white blood cells (leukocytes) are essential for immune defense and combating infections and have a nucleus.

What is anemia

Anemia is a condition characterized by a deficiency in the number or quality of red blood cells, leading to reduced oxygen transport in the body. It can result from various causes, including nutrient deficiencies, chronic diseases, or bone marrow disorders. Means low enery and fatigue due to decreased oxygen supply.

What is a thrombocyte

A thrombocyte, or platelet, is a small cell fragment in the blood that plays a crucial role in clotting and preventing bleeding by helping to form blood clots.

What are the steps of blood clotting

1.. Platelets stick to injured site (They release thromboplastin

2.Thromboplastin activates a plasma protein prothrombin (produced in the liver)

3.Prothrombin is transformed to thrombin

4.Thrombin acts as an enzyme and slices a plasma protein fibrinogen (produced in

the liver

5.Fibrinogen gets converted to fibrin threads

6.These fibrin threads wrap around the damaged area

7.Red blood cells and more platelets become trappedto form a stable clot.

What is a thrombus

A thrombus is a blood clot that forms within a blood vessel and can obstruct blood flow, leading to conditions such as deep vein thrombosis or stroke.

What is a embolus

An embolus is a blood clot or other foreign material that travels through the bloodstream and can cause a blockage in a blood vessel, potentially leading to serious health issues such as pulmonary embolism or stroke.

What is artifital blood called

Fluosol

What are the advantages of artifitial blood

No blood matching, long self life, and does not need to be screened

What afre the disadvanages of artifictal blood

no clotting, no immunity

What are the antigens on each blood type

A-A, B-B, AB- A and B,O-none

What are the antibodies on each blood type

A-B, B-A, AB-none, O-A and B

What blood types can revice and donate from.

A recive- A,O. B recive-B,O. AB revice- A,B,AB,O. O recive-O

A donate-A,AB. B donate-B,O. AB donate-AB. O donate-A,B,AB,O

What is the boides first line of defense

Skin: has acidic secretions

mucous membranes, tears, saliva, perspiration ...... all secrete lysozyme (antimicrobial enzyme that destroys the cell walls

What is the second line of defense

● It is non-specific

● White blood cells called macrophages engulf invading organisms by phagocytosis

● Cells that are damaged by microbes give off a signal

● Neutrophils are attracted to this... and by chemotaxis squeeze out of capillaries

and migrate toward the damaged tissue

● they too engulf the microbe and release lysosomal enzymes that digest the

microbe and macrophage

what is the third line of defense

• Third Line: Adaptive immune response involving T and B cells.

T cells contain blueprints for antibodies and track invaders, signaling an attack. They pass information to B cells, where:

• Helper T cells read the antigen's shape and release lymphokines, activating Killer T cells to destroy infected or mutated (cancerous) cells.

• B cells multiply and produce antibodies, which are specific to antigens, binding to them and forming an antigen-antibody complex. This complex is large and easily targeted by macrophages for destruction.

• After the battle, suppressor T cells inhibit further immune responses. Memory B cells remain to recognize and respond to future invaders.

What do virsus do to cells

inject DNA

What do autoimmune disese do

The immune system fails to recognize body cells and launches an attack on its own tissues and organs

Why is HIV so bad

attacks t cells