Identify the components of the cardiovascular system.
The heart, blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries), and blood.
What do capillaries do?
Exchange gasses and waste.
What are the functions of blood?
Transport gasses, nutrients, hormones, and metabolic wastes;
Stabilize body temperature;
Regulate pH and ion composition of interstitial fluids;
Restrict fluid loss at injury site;
Defend against toxins and pathogens.
What is the acronym for the functions of blood?
T.T.R.R.D
Identify the two components making up whole blood.
Plasma- the liquid portion.
Formed elements- the cellular components.
What are the compositions of plasma?
Water- 92%
Proteins- 7%
Other solutes- 1%
Proteins in plasma.
Albumin, globulins, fibrinogen
What do Albumins do?
They contribute to the maintenance of fluid balance and act as antioxidants. If low, it will cause edema.
What is edema?
Swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in body tissues.
What do Globulins do?
They contribute to the proper functioning of the immune system, blood clotting, and transportation of substances in the body. Immunoglobins.
What are immunoglobins?
Antibodies produced by the immune system in response to the presence of foreign substances called antigens.
What do Fibrinogen do?
Its primary function is to play a crucial role in blood clotting.
Other solutes in plasma.
Electrolytes (such as sodium, potassium, and calcium), hormones, waste products, and nutrients.
What are the compositions of formed elements?
Red blood cells- 99.9%
White blood cells- <0.1%
Platelets- <0.1%
Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes).
Carries oxygen throughout the blood.
White Blood Cells (Leukocytes).
Defends against pathogens.
Platelets (Thrombocytes)
Help cause clots at injury site.
Define hematocrit.
A measure of the volume percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume.
Which specific plasma proteins would you expect to be elevated during an infection?
Globulins.
Define hemocytoblasts.
Multipotent stem cells found in the bone marrow that give rise to all types of blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. They are responsible for the continuous production and replenishment of blood cells in the body.
Describe the origin of platelets.
Cell fragments that derive from larger cells called megakaryocytes.
Where are Megakaryocytes formed?
In the bone marrow through a process called megakaryopoiesis.
Cells that lymphoid stem cells produce.
Lymphocytes.
Cells that myeloid stem cells produce.
Red blood cells, platelets, and different types of white blood cells such as neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils and monocytes.
Neutrophils function.
Phagocytic: engulf pathogens or debris in injured or infected tissues; release cytotoxic enzymes and chemicals.
Lymphocytes function.
Provide defense against specific pathogens or toxin.
Monocytes function.
Enter tissues and become macrophages; engulf pathogens or debris.
Eosinophils function.
Phagocytic: engulf antibody-labeled materials; release cytotoxic enzymes; reduce inflammation; increase in abundance in allergies and parasitic infection.
Basophils
Enter damaged tissues and release histamine and other chemicals that promote inflammation.
Granular Leukocytes.
Neutrophils, Eosinophils, Basophils.
Agranular Leukocytes.
Monocytes & Lymphocytes.
What is hematology?
The study of blood and blood disorders.
Describe a complete blood count (CBC).
A that provides information about the different components of blood. It includes measurements of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets, typically includes measurements of hemoglobin, hematocrit, RBC count, WBC count, and platelet count, and differential WBC count. The results can help healthcare professionals assess a person's blood cell levels and identify any abnormalities.
Which condition would a patient have if she had a depressed hematocrit level?
Anemia.
What is anemia?
When a patient has a decrease in the number of red blood cells or a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin in the blood, leading to a lower hematocrit level.
Describe the functional aspects of RBCs.
Maintaining oxygen delivery, waste removal, pH regulation, and overall homeostasis in the body through hemoglobin.
Describe hemoglobin.
A protein found in red blood cells that is responsible for carrying oxygen and some carbon dioxide throughout the body; consists of four subunits of 2 alpha and beta polypeptide chains, each containing a heme group that binds to oxygen molecules through an ion ion.
Oxyhemoglobin (HbO2).
A molecule formed when oxygen binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells; oxygenated form of hemoglobin; gives blood its bright red color and plays a crucial role in oxygen delivery to support cellular respiration and energy production. (Fully loaded)
Deoxyhemoglobin.
A form of hemoglobin that has released its oxygen molecule(s); commonly found in venous blood and appears dark red or bluish in color; plays a crucial role in the transportation of carbon dioxide from tissues to the lungs for elimination. (Not fully loaded)
In what way would a liver disease affect the level of bilirubin in the blood?
By impairing the liver's ability to process and excrete bilirubin.
What is bilirubin?
A waste product produced when red blood cells are broken down by megakaryocytes.
Creation of bile.
The liver filters and metabolizes bilirubin.
What is determined by the surface antigens on RBCs?
An individual's blood type.
What is the most common blood type in the United States?
O positive (O+).
Which blood type(s) can safely be transfused into a person with O- blood?
O- blood only.
Why can’t a person with type A blood safely receive blood from a person with type B blood?
Individuals with type A blood have antibodies against type B blood. These antibodies recognize the type B blood cells as foreign and attack them, causing a potentially severe transfusion reaction.
Define hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN).
A condition where the red blood cells of a newborn are destroyed due to an incompatibility between the blood types of the mother and the baby. This occurs when the mother's immune system produces antibodies that attack the baby's red blood cells, leading to anemia and other complications. Can occur when the mother is Rh-negative and the baby is Rh-positive, causing Rh incompatibility.
Why is RhoGAM administered to pregnant Rh- women?
To prevent the development of Rh incompatibility by suppressing the immune response of the mother to the Rh-positive blood cells of the fetus. This helps to prevent the production of antibodies that could harm future pregnancies.
Does an Rh+ mother carrying an Rh- fetus require a RhoGAM injection?
No, it is only given to Rh- carrying mothers.
Identify the five types of white blood cells.
Neutrophil, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, Basophils.
How do basophils respond to tissue damage?
They release histamine which will cause redness, swelling or itching.
Which type of white blood cell would you find in the greatest number in an infected cut?
Neutrophils.
Define hemostasis.
A process that stops bleeding and maintains blood within a damaged blood vessel. Involves three main steps: vascular spasm, platelet plug formation, and blood clotting (coagulation).
Vascular phase.
A stage in the process of wound healing where blood vessels in the injured area constrict to reduce bleeding, causes a release of endothelin that makes the blood vessel “sticky”. Blood vessel has a vascular spasm.
Platelet phase.
Platelets stick to endothelium and form a “platelet plug”. Pulls separated blood vessels together.
Coagulation phase.
“Clotting phase”, is a stage that involves the formation of a blood clot to prevent excessive bleeding. During this phase, various clotting factors in the blood interact to form a fibrin clot, which helps to seal the damaged blood vessel. This process is essential for wound healing and preventing blood loss.
Describe the events that follow the coagulation phase.
The stable blood clot is formed by the aggregation of platelets and the activation of clotting factors, which leads to the conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin. Fibrin forms a mesh-like structure that reinforces the platelet plug and traps red blood cells, forming a solid clot. Following clot formation, clot retraction occurs, where the clot contracts and becomes more compact. Clot retraction helps to stabilize the clot and promote wound healing. Fibrinolysis than gets released to break down the fibrin.
Pernicious anemia.
Occurs due to a deficiency in vitamin B12. This can lead to a decrease in the production of healthy red blood cells, causing symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, pale skin, and shortness of breath.
Iron deficiency anemia.
Is caused by a lack of iron in the body, leading to a decrease in the production of red blood cells.
Identify the two types of leukemia.
Lymphoid & Myeloid leukemia.
Lymphoid leukemia.
A type of cancer that affects the lymphoid cells, which are responsible for producing white blood cells. It is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal lymphoid cells in the bone marrow and lymphoid tissues. This leads to a decrease in the production of normal blood cells and an increase in immature white blood cells.
Myeloid leukemia.
A type of cancer that affects the bone marrow and blood. It is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal myeloid cells, which are responsible for producing red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This condition can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, frequent infections, easy bruising or bleeding, and anemia.
Explain why venipuncture is a common clinical procedure for obtaining blood.
It is thinner and has a less pressure than an artery. It also allows for direct access to the venous system, which carries oxygenated and deoxygenated blood throughout the body.