Blood Unit

Plasma

Plasma

liquid component of blood (55% of blood volume); made of water, sugar, salts, hormones, proteins and amino acids; help your body recover from injury, distribute nutrients, remove waste and prevent infection, while moving throughout your circulatory system

Hemoglobin

quaternary protein molecule made of two functional parts; heme molecule holds iron atoms and two proteins wound together (4 total) to hold heme molecule

Opsonization

antibodies or other proteins (complement) mark the pathogen for death by sticking to it; facilitates WBC adhering to the pathogen via binding of cell membrane components; stick all over a germ to immobilize it and allows the WBC to capture it to do phagocytosis

Hematopoiesis

production of blood cells made from stem cells (hemocytoblasts) in the bone marrow; stem cells can differentiate into any kind

Antibody

proteins that are created by the immune system to recognize non-self organisms/chemicals; they attack and attach to foreign antigens

Antigen

proteins that give cells identity by sticking to the outside of the cell; induces immune response in the body to make antibodies

Fibrin

a molecular polymer that creates a mesh to trap RBCs and platelets; release of clotting factors changes prothrombin (plasma protein) to thrombin (enzyme), thrombin catalyzes fibrinogen (present in plasma) into fibrin

Clotting factor

proteins in your blood that help form blood clots to stop bleeding

Prothrombin

plasma protein that changes into thrombin, an enzyme, after the release of clotting factors

Thrombin

catalyzes fibrinogen (already present in plasma) into fibrin which creates a mesh to trap RBCs and platelets

Erythrocyte

carries and delivers oxygen; biconcave to increase surface area (allows for more efficient diffusion), use lactic acid fermentation for respiration so that it doesn’t use its own oxygen, mostly composed of hemoglobin so that they’re more efficient and carry more oxygen in one go, no nucleus to make more space for oxygen since it doesn’t make anything

Leukocyte

fight off pathogens; each specifically engage different invaders in the body

Eosinophil

lead attack against parasitic worms; phagocytose bacteria; two kidney shaped nuclei

Lymphocyte

produce antibodies against specific invaders; B lymphocytes produce antibodies to pathogens and T lymphocytes produce cytokines that direct immune response and destroys infected cells; B cells make antibodies, T cells fight infected cells; will remember the antibodies produced

Neutrophil

phagocytose bacteria and viruses; 3-6 nucleus; fight off bacteria and viruses through eating them

Basophil

produce histamine causing inflammation to react to something (allergy, etc.); rarest; inflammation can cause the walls of the blood vessels to thicken, reducing width of the passageway through the vessel

Monocyte

function to phagocytize bacteria and other invading pathogens; mature into macrophages which can leave blood vessels and enter tissues where pathogens frequently enter (diapedesis)

Platelets

essential for blood clotting; chunks of cytoplasm in a membrane that contain myosin and actin; receptor on the outside sticks to collagen and plug up the hole

What are the three primary functions of blood and how are they accomplished?

Distribution of materials to the tissues in the body (hormones, O2/Co2, Glucose/nutrients, waste) through erythrocytes and plasma which flow throughout the body and deliver them, regulation (temperature through circulation, pH [acts as a buffer] when muscles are being worked, electrolyte concentration, water balance), and protection (clotting and immunity [white blood cells])

What adaptations allow erythrocytes to deliver as much oxygen as possible to body tissues?

Biconcave to slightly increase surface area and pick up as much oxygen as possible, no nucleus so that there’s more space for hemoglobin, mostly hemoglobin to carry oxygen, lactic acid fermentation for respiration so that they don’t waste the O2 they’re carrying, round shape so that there aren't any clots

What is the ultimate cause of sickle-cell anemia? Compare and contrast this to classic anemia.

Malaria allows the sickle cell shape of the blood cells because it prevents the spread of malaria in the blood. The sickle cell shape prevents the RBCs from traveling as much and spreading the eggs. Sickle cell anemia causes traffic jams and leads to clots since the shape can’t hold as much O2. Classic anemia is classified as a lack of working hemoglobin. This can be caused by poor diet, globin mutation (ineffective protein), and injury/hemorrhage.

How can a differential white blood cell count help in the diagnosis of infection?

If there is more of a specific white blood cell, it can show that the specific antigen that the WBC fights against is present, such as an increased eosinophil count means parasite

Where are blood cells made? How are they made?

They’re made in bone marrow; They come from stem cells committing to a certain cell, then specializing in the type. The stem cell commits to becoming a RBC, synthesizes ribosome, accumulates hemoglobin and lastly ejects the nucleus to become a red blood cell.

Why is it dangerous to give a transfusion to someone without knowing their blood type?

The antigens on their blood might have antibodies to the blood that they’re being given, causing a clot and for the body to reject the transfusion.

Why is Rh factor important to consider in family planning?

If the mother has negative Rh and the father has positive, the baby could end up with positive Rh and cause the mother to build antibodies to the baby’s blood after it’s born. If that happens and the mother has a second child, the second baby’s blood will be attacked by the mother’s antibodies against positive Rh.

diapedesis

monocytes mature in macrophages which can leave the blood vessels and enter tissues where pathogens frequently enter

What are the major steps leading to the formation (and eventual degradation) of a blood clot?

When a cut is created in the skin, collagen is exposed to platelets. Clotting factors are released and change prothrombin into activating fibrin which creates a mesh to trap RBCs and platelets. Platelets then stick to the opening and PDGF stimulates the growth of collagen and elastin to repair the damaged area. Plasmin then breaks down the fibrin after being activated by factors derived from endothelial cells surrounding the clot.

platelet derived growth factor

stimulates the growth of collagen and elastin that repair the damaged vessel