Blood & The Heart

Functions of the circulatory system?

Transport (oxygen, nutrients, CO2, and hormones), Protection (immunity, clotting, etc), and regulation (stabilizing pH and temperature)

Blood composition (Hematocrit)

Contains blood plasma and formed elements (leukocytes and erythrocytes)

What is the most abundant plasma protein and its function?

Albumin. It is a binding protein that transports hormones and fatty acids

Hypoproteinemia

A deficiency of plasma proteins that can be caused by dietary protein deficiency or liver malfunction

What organ produces albumin?

The liver

What is blood viscosity?

How sticky a fluid is due to cohesion of molecules. (e.g. blood should be viscous)

What is the significance of fibrinogen?

It is a plasma protein produced by the liver and creates fibrin (sticky protein) which is essential for blood clotting.

What is the function of erythrocytes?

carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues, and carries carbon dioxide from the tissues to take to the lungs and expel. They always remain in the vascular system.

What cytoskeletal proteins are in erythrocytes?

Spectrin and actin which provide durability and resilience, allowing RBC’s to move flexibly through the spleen and tight capillaries.

What are the characteristics of hemoglobin?

One hemoglobin contains 4 heme groups that contain iron and oxygen binds to it.

What are the subcategories of leukocytes?

Granulocytes which are: neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils

Agranulocytes which are: lymphocytes and monocytes

Neutrophils

The most abundant WBC. They phagocytize bacteria and granules contain lysozyme

Eosinophils

Destroys parasites (hookworms, tapeworms) and phagocytize things that cayse allergies and induce histamine release by basophils

Basophils

Secrete histamines, a vasodilator for clotting proteins to move faster. Also secretes heparin, an anticoagulant which prevent blood clotting. They deal with allergens, pathogens, and parasites

Lymphocytes

They destroy virus cells, cancer cells, and foreign cells. They mature in the thymus.

Monocytes

They are phagocytic cells that engulf dead or foreign cells and is an antigen-presenting cell that alerts immune system. They enter tissues as macrophages.