Blood A&P2 review

How is blood different from other connective tissues?

Blood consists of liquid extracellular matrix called plasma, unlike other connective tissues which have a solid matrix. It functions in transport of nutrients, gases, and waste.

What are the three main functions of blood?

Transportation, regulation, protection

How many oxygen molecules can one hemoglobin molecule transport?

4

What is the hematocrit?

The percentage of blood volume occupied by RBCs

How would kidney failure affect RBC production?

It would decrease erythropoietin production, causing anemia

What problem can occur if an Rh⁻ mother carries an Rh⁺ baby?

Maternal anti-Rh antibodies attack fetal RBCs (hemolytic disease of the newborn)

What hormone promotes RBC formation?

Erythropoietin (EPO)

Which WBC produces histamine?

Basophils

Which blood cell can become an antibody-secreting cell?

B lymphocytes

What are the formed elements of blood?

RBCs, WBCs, and platelets

Why is type O the "universal donor"?

It has no A or B antigens on its RBCs

Which formed element is the least numerous?

Basophils

How does blood provide protection?

Through WBC immune defense and clotting to prevent blood loss

Which leukocyte is primarily responsible for phagocytizing bacteria?

Neutrophils

What is the correct order of hemostasis?

Vascular spasm → platelet plug → coagulation → clot retraction → thrombolysis

What is plasma?

The liquid matrix of blood composed of ~90% water

What is erythropoiesis?

The process of producing red blood cells in the bone marrow

What is hemoglobin?

An oxygen-carrying protein in RBCs containing iron

What are thrombocytes (platelets)?

Cell fragments derived from megakaryocytes that aid in clotting

What is agglutination?

The clumping of RBCs due to an antigen-antibody reaction

What is diapedesis?

The process by which WBCs squeeze through capillary walls to reach infected tissue

What is the buffy coat?

The thin layer of WBCs and platelets between plasma and RBCs in centrifuged blood

What is fibrinogen?

A soluble plasma protein converted to fibrin during clotting

What is hemopoiesis (hematopoiesis)?

The formation and development of all blood cells from stem cells in red bone marrow

What is thrombolysis?

The dissolution/breakdown of a clot after tissue repair

What are antigens?

Surface molecules on cells that can trigger an immune response

What is a pluripotent stem cell (hemocytoblast)?

A stem cell in red bone marrow that gives rise to all formed elements of blood

Which leukocyte is the first responder and primarily phagocytizes bacteria?

Neutrophils

Which leukocyte targets parasitic worms and modulates allergic reactions?

Eosinophils

Which leukocyte releases histamine and heparin to promote inflammation?

Basophils

Which leukocyte leaves the bloodstream and differentiates into macrophages for long-term phagocytosis?

Monocytes

Which leukocyte is responsible for adaptive immunity, including antibody production (B cells) and cell-mediated immunity (T cells)?

Lymphocytes

Which statement about blood is true?

Blood is slightly more vicious than water

What is albumin's primary role in plasma?

It is the most abundant plasma protein and maintains osmotic pressure

Which plasma protein is NOT produced by the liver?

Immunoglobulin

Which formed elements arise from myeloid stem cells?

Platelets

What is a reticulocyte?

An immature erythrocyte that may still contain fragments of organelles

Aging and damaged erythrocytes are removed from circulation by

Macrophages

What is the difference between a thrombus and an embolus?

A thrombus is a clot attached to a vessel wall; an embolus is a thrombus that breaks free and enters circulation

Prothrombin is converted to thrombin during the

Common pathway

What is transferrin?

A plasma protein that binds to iron and distributes it throughout the body

What is the difference between the extrinsic and intrinsic coagulation pathways?

Extrinsic begins with tissue damage (tissue factor); intrinsic begins with contact with foreign substances or vascular damage

A patient has chronic watery diarrhea for 2 months. A blood test would most likely reveal

Polycythemia — (an abnormally elevated RBC count/hematocrit, often caused by dehydration or chronic hypoxia)

A patient with severe persistent allergies improves on antihistamines. Which leukocyte was likely overactive?

Basophils — (rarest granulocyte; releases histamine and heparin to promote inflammation)

A patient bruises easily and has prolonged bleeding from small cuts. Which condition is most likely?

Thrombocytopenia — (abnormally low platelet count; causes impaired clotting and easy bruising/bleeding)

A newborn presents with jaundice. This is most likely caused by

Excess bilirubin from RBC breakdown — (bilirubin = yellow pigment produced when hemoglobin is broken down)

Hemophilia is characterized by

Inadequate production of clotting factors — (clotting factors = plasma proteins needed for the coagulation cascade)

A patient with leukemia would most likely show

Excessive uncontrolled leukocyte proliferation — (leukemia = forming tissues in bone marrow)

A patient living at high altitude for several months would likely develop

Polycythemia due to increased EPO production — (polycythemia = elevated RBC count; EPO rises in response to chronic low O₂)

A person with type AB⁺ blood is considered a universal recipient because

They have both A and B antigens and Rh factor, so they produce no ABO or Rh antibodies

What is sickle cell disease?

An inherited disorder where malformed hemoglobin causes RBCs to take a sickle (S) shape and break down

What would happen if plasmin were absent from the blood?

Blood clots would not be broken down after healing, increasing risk of thrombosis — (plasmin = enzyme responsible for fibrinolysis/clot dissolution; thrombosis = abnormal clot in a vessel)