The Circulatory System and Blood Components

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the circulatory system, blood composition, cell types, hemostasis, and blood typing based on the lecture notes.

Circulatory system

A combination of the Cardiovascular and lymphatic systems.

Closed circulatory system

A system found in vertebrates where the blood is repeatedly cycled throughout the body inside a system of pipes.

Arteries

Vessels that carry blood away from the heart, branching until they become microscopic capillaries.

Veins

Vessels that carry deoxyganated blood back to the heart.

Average Blood Volume

$5-6\,L$ in males and $4-5\,L$ in females.

Blood pH

Slightly alkaline with a value of $7.4$.

Plasma

The liquid portion or matrix of the blood.

Fibrin

Fibers that provide support to blood cells and are involved in clotting.

Buffy coat

The layer in centrifuged blood located above the erythrocytes which contains $WBC$ and Platelets.

Diapedesis

The process by which leukocytes leave capillaries and enter tissues.

Chemotaxis

The process where leukocytes follow chemicals secreted by damaged cells.

Lymphocytes

The 2nd most abundant type of leukocyte, mostly found in lymphoid tissues such as the spleen and lymph nodes.

T-lymphocytes

Cells that act against viruses and tumer cells.

B Lymphocytes

Cells that give plasma cells which produce antibodies.

Monocytes

Leukocytes making up $4-8\%$ of the total, featuring a nucleus with a distinct $U$ or Kidney shape, and can differentiate into macrophages.

Neutrophils

The most numerous leukocyte in the body, containing $3$ up to $5$ lobes and involved in attacking bacteria and fungi via phagocytosis.

Eosinophils

Leukocytes accounting for $1-4\%$ of the total, containing a nucleus with $2$ lobes connected by a thin band, used to fight parasitic worms and phagocytize allergy chemicals.

Basophils

The rarest of all leukocytes ($0.5\%$) containing large granules of histamine which act as a vasodilator.

Colony stimulating hormones (CSFs)

Hormones that regulate Leukopoiesis (production of leukocytes).

Leokocytosis

A leukocyte count greater than $11.000$, common during bacterial and viral infection.

Leukopenia

An abnormally low white blood cell count, which can be induced by steroids and cancer treatments.

Erythrocyte

Small ($7.5\,M$), biconcave discs that lack a nucleus and organelles and function to carry $O_2$ and $CO_2$.

Heamoglobins

Molecules composed of Globin and Heme that transport most oxygen in the body; one molecule can transport $4$ oxygen.

Oxyhemoglobins

The bright red form of hemoglobin when oxygen binds to iron.

Deoxyhemoglobins

The dark red form of hemoglobin when oxygen is removed from iron.

Carbamino hemoglobins

The form created when $CO_2$ attaches to the globin portion of the hemoglobins.

Hematopoiesis

Blood cell formation occurring in red bone marrow found in irregular bones and the epiphysis of long bones.

Reticulocytes

Young erythrocytes that enter the bloodstream and become mature erythrocytes after two days.

Erythropoitin (EPO)

A hormone produced by kidneys and the liver that directly regulates erythropoisis.

Bilirubin

A yellow pigment formed from the breakdown of heme that leaves the body via feces.

Hematocrit

The percentage of the erythrocyte to total blood volume.

Anemia

A condition where blood has abnormally low oxygen carrying capacity, characterized by shortness of breath, pale skin, and fatigue.

Polycythemia

A disorder characterized by a high number of erythrocyte.

Thrmbocytes

Platelets; cell fragments containing granules of chemicals like serotonin and $Ca$ involved in blood clotting.

Hemostasis

The process of the stoppage of bleeding through clot formation.

Vascular spasm

The first phase of hemostasis where blood vessels constrict (vasoconstriction) immediately after injury to reduce blood loss.

Fibrinolysis

The process that removes unneeded blood clots after healing has occurred, beginning after $2$ days.

Plasmin

An enzyme that can digest blood clots.

Heparin

An anticoagulant present in the granules of basophils and mast cells that inhibits thrombin activity.

Thrombus

A clot that develops and persists in unbroken vessels.

Embolus

A free floating molecule in the blood.

Thrombocytopenia

A deficiency where the number of platelets is less than $50.000$, which can cause hemorrhage.

Hemophilia

A disorder where blood does not clot properly due to a deficiency of clot factors.

Albumins

Plasma proteins ($60\%$) produced by the liver that create osmotic pressure and maintain water balance.

Agglutinogen (ag)

Identity proteins found on the membrane of $RBC$ that can lead to an immune response.

Universal Recipients

TYPE AB individuals who do not produce agglutinins and can receive blood from anyone safely.

Universal donors

TYPE O individuals who do not contain agglutinogens.

Erythroblastosis fetalis

Also known as Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn; a condition where an Rh- mother develops antibodies against an Rh+ baby's blood.

RhoGAM

A treatment that prevents an immune response by an Rh- mother against Rh+ fetal blood.