Blood Physiology and Hemostasis

These flashcards cover key terminology and concepts related to blood physiology, hemostasis, cell types, and disorders.

Blood

Fluid connective tissue composed of plasma and formed elements.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to body tissues.

Leukocytes

White blood cells that function in the immune system to defend against disease.

Platelets

Cell fragments that form temporary platelet plug.

Hematocrit

The percentage of blood volume that is composed of red blood cells.

Hemoglobin

The iron-containing protein in red blood cells that binds oxygen.

Explain the ABO blood groups

ABO blood types are based on A and B antigens on RBCs

The he Rh factor adds a positive or negative designation, which determines what antibodies a person can form and who they can safely receive blood from.

Hematopoiesis

The process of blood cell formation.

Anemia

A condition characterized by a deficiency in red blood cells or hemoglobin.

Iron-deficiency anemia

Anemia resulting from insufficient iron levels.

Pernicious anemia

Anemia caused by an inability to absorb vitamin B12.

Macrophages

Large phagocytic cells that engulf dying red blood cells.

Diapedesis

The process by which white blood cells leave the bloodstream to reach tissues.

Leukocytosis

An increase in white blood cell count, often due to infection.

Granulocytes

A category of white blood cells characterized by visible granules in their cytoplasm.

Agranulocytes

White blood cells that lack visible granules.

Neutrophils

A type of granulocyte that is highly phagocytic and responds to infection.

Eosinophils

Granulocytes involved in allergic responses and parasitic infections.

Basophils

Granulocytes that release histamine during inflammatory responses.

Lymphocytes

A type of agranulocyte that identify, attack, and remember specific foreign invaders such as viruses, bacteria, and abnormal cells.

Monocytes

The largest type of white blood cell, which differentiates into macrophages.

Leukopoiesis

The production of white blood cells.

Thrombocytopenia

A condition characterized by an abnormally low platelet count.

Hemostasis

The process of stopping bleeding, involving vascular spasm, platelet plug formation, and coagulation.

Coagulation

The phase where a cascade of clotting factors converts prothrombin → thrombin, which then converts fibrinogen → fibrin. Fibrin forms a mesh that stabilizes the platelet plug, creating a strong blood clot to stop bleeding.

Thrombus

A clot that forms in a blood vessel and remains there.

Fibrinogen

A soluble protein converted to fibrin during blood clotting.

Fibrinolysis

The process of removing a blood clot after healing.

Antithrombin III

A protein that inactivates thrombin and limit clot formation.

DIC (Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation)

A serious condition involving widespread clotting and bleeding.

Hemophilia

A hereditary bleeding disorder caused by deficiency in clotting factors.

RhoGAM

A medication given to Rh- mothers to prevent Rh incompatibility.

Agglutination

Clumping of blood cells due to the presence of an antibody.

Agglutinogens

Antigens on the surface of red blood cells that determine blood types.

Antigens

Substances that can provoke an immune response.

Antibodies

Proteins produced by the immune system that specifically bind to antigens.

Blood transfusion

The process of transferring blood or blood components into a patient's circulation.

Transfusion reactions

Adverse effects that occur when a recipient's immune system reacts against transfused blood.

Erythroblastosis fetalis

A hemolytic disease of the newborn caused by Rh incompatibility.

Thromboxane A2

A prostaglandin released by activated platelets that promotes platelet aggregation.

Warfarin

An anticoagulant medication that inhibits vitamin K action.

Heparin

An anticoagulant used clinically to prevent blood clot formation.

Calcium ions (Ca2+)

Essential mineral involved in several steps of the coagulation pathway.

Vitamin K

A vitamin necessary for the synthesis of certain clotting factors.

Hypoxia

A deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues.

Plasma proteins

Proteins found in blood plasma, including albumin, globulins, and fibrinogen.

Transferrin

A protein that transports iron in the blood.

Ferritin

A protein that stores iron within cells.

Bilirubin

A yellow pigment produced during the breakdown of hemoglobin.

Plasminogen

An inactive precursor of plasmin that is converted to plasmin during fibrinolysis.

Vascular spasm

The constriction of blood vessels to reduce blood flow during hemorrhage.

Platelet plug formation

The process by which platelets aggregate to form a temporary seal at a site of injury.

Prothrombin

An inactive precursor to thrombin, converted during the coagulation process.

Thrombin

An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin during clotting.

Intrinsic pathway

The coagulation pathway activated by damage to the blood vessel.

Extrinsic pathway

The coagulation pathway activated by tissue factor released from damaged tissues.

Factor X

A key enzyme in the coagulation cascade that converts prothrombin to thrombin.

Von Willebrand factor

A protein that assists in platelet adhesion during clot formation.

Hypochromic anemia

An anemia characterized by reduced hemoglobin content in red blood cells.

Erythropoiesis requirements

requires erythropoietin, iron, vitamin B12, folate, vitamin B6, amino acids, and a healthy bone marrow environment.

What are the physical characteristics of blood? (4)

Plasma, Leukocytes, erythrocytes, platelets

What is the composition of blood? (4)

Fluid connective tissue

Plasma

Hematocrit

Erythrocyte, leukocyte, platelets

What are the layers after the blood tube is centrifuged? (3)

Plasma

Buffy coat

Erythrocyte

Name 5 functions of blood

Delivers oxygen and nutrients to body cells

Maintain body temperature

Prevent blood loss and infection

Transport hormones from endocrine organs

Maintain adequate fluid volume in circulatory system

What is plasma?

Liquid portion of blood that is 90% water, transports nutrients, hormones, and waste. Contains proteins that help with clotting and fighting infections

What components can be found in plasma? (5)

Water, plasma proteins

Albumin, immune proteins

Transport and clotting proteins

Ions, waste

Glucose and amino acids

What are 5 characteristics of red blood cells

Biconcave shape

Hemoglobin

No nucleus

Flexible

No mitochondria

What protein makes RBC flexible

Spectrin, it allows the cell to bend and squeeze through tiny capillaries without breaking

Does RBC use aerobic or anaerobic respiration?

they use anaerobic respiration to make energy because they lack a mitochondria, this ensures they deliver oxygen instead of consuming it

How is erythropoiesis regulated ?

When blood oxygen levels drop, the kidneys detect it and release erythropoietin, which stimulates the bone marrow to produce more RBCs.

How are RBC made?

They develop, lose their nucleus, enter the blood as reticulocytes, and mature into RBCs

What is oxyhemoglobin ?

Hemoglobin combined with oxygen, formed in the lungs to transport oxygen to body tissues

What is deoxyhemoglobin?

Hemoglobin without oxygen, formed after oxygen is released to tissues

What is carbaminohemoglobin?

Hemoglobin combined with carbon dioxide for transport from tissues to lungs

What is hemoglobin made of? (3)

2 alpha chains(protein)

2 beta chains(protein)

Each with a heme group that carries oxygen

Do RBC replicate them selfs?

No because they do not have a nucleus

What are 4 crucial components needed to make RBC

Iron

V B-12

Folic acid

Amino acids/proteins

What is the fate of old RBC (4)

Old RBC become fragile

Get trapped in smaller sinusoids

Macrophages engulf dying RBCs into spleen

Heme and globin are separated

What are the different types of anemia? (4)

Iron-deficiency anemia

Pernicious anemia

Hypochromic anemia

Aplastic anemia

Aplastic anemia

Caused by Destruction or inhibition of red bone marrow

What is the typical breakdown of abundance of white blood cells? (5)

Neutrophil→ lymphocytes→ monocytes → eosinophils→ basophils (Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas

How is leukopoiesis regulated?

Controlled by colony-stimulating factors and interleukins; production increases in response to infection or low WBC counts

What are the types of leukocyte disorders? (4)

Leukopenia

Infectious mononucleosis

Leukemia

Chronic and acute leukemia

Leukopenia

Caused by Abnormally low WBC count

Infectious mononucleosis

Caused by Epstein-bar virus

Acute and chronic leukemia

Acute- Fast, aggressive, involves immature cells.

Chronic- Slow, often subtle, involves more mature cells

Leukemia (3)

Cancerous leukocytes filled red bone marrow.

Immature nonfunctional WBCs in blood stream

Death from internal hemorrhage

What are the 5 steps in hemostasis

Vascular spasm

Platelet plug

Coagulation

Clot retraction

Thrombolysis

Clot restraction?

Platelets contract fibrin strands to shrink the clot, pull wound edges together, and help tissue repair.

What is Thrombolysis?

Removes unneeded clots after healing

How is blood clotting regulated? (4)

Controlled by inactive clotting factors, natural anticoagulants, fibrinolysis, and endothelial signals to prevent unwanted clots

What are bleeding disorders?

Abnormalities that prevent normal clot formation

What are types of bleeding disorders? (4)

Thrombocytopenia

Hemophilia

Impaired liver function

DIC(disseminated intravascular coagulation)

Impaired liver function

Causes inability to synthesize procoagulants, causes vitamin K deficiency, hepatitis, and cirrhosis

What are types of anticoagulant drugs? (4)

Aspirin, heparin, warfarin, dabigatran, RhoGAM

What are human blood groups?

Classifications of blood based on antigens present on the surface of red blood cells

What is blood typing

Process that determines a persons blood group based on the antigens present on their red blood cells

What is Rh factor?

A protein on the surface of red blood cells that determine RH blood type.

Rh+=protein present

Rh-= protein absent

What Is D antigen?

The specific protein that determines if your blood is RH positive or RH negative.

How do transfusions work? (4)

Replaces lost blood/components.

RBC must match ABO and Rh; crossmatching ensures compatibility.

Administered via IV.

Restores oxygen delivery, blood volume, and clotting function