Blood Functions and Components Flashcards

Flashcards to review the functions and components of blood.

List the five primary functions of blood.

Transportation, regulation, restriction of fluid loss, defense, and temperature stabilization.

What are the main components of blood?

Plasma and formed elements (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets).

What are the major components of plasma?

Water (92%), proteins (7%), and solutes (1%).

Name three types of plasma proteins, and state their functions.

Albumins (maintain osmotic pressure and transport hormones), globulins (antibodies and transport), and fibrinogen (forms blood clots).

Describe the structure of red blood cells (RBCs).

Biconcave disc shape, no nucleus or mitochondria.

What is the primary function of hemoglobin?

Carry oxygen.

What are the recycling steps of hemoglobin?

Amino acids reused, heme turned into biliverdin then bilirubin, and iron is bound to transferrin.

Describe the steps of RBC production (erythropoiesis).

Hemocytoblasts → myeloid stem cells → proerythroblasts → erythroblasts → normoblasts → reticulocytes → mature RBCs.

What nutrients are required for RBC production?

Iron, amino acids, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and Folic acid.

How does erythropoietin (EPO) stimulate erythropoiesis?

EPO stimulates RBC production in bone marrow when oxygen levels are low.

What are antigens for Type A blood, and what antibodies does it contain?

A antigens, anti-B antibodies.

What are antigens for Type B blood, and what antibodies does it contain?

B antigens, anti-A antibodies.

What antigens and antibodies are there for Type AB blood?

A and B antigens, no antibodies (universal receiver).

What antigens and antibodies are there for Type O blood?

No antigens, both anti-A and anti-B antibodies (universal donor).

List the five types of white blood cells (WBCs).

Neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes.

Which WBC is the first responder, and what is its function?

Neutrophils, phagocytose bacteria.

Name the three phases of hemostasis.

Vascular phase, platelet phase, and coagulation phase.

Briefly describe the extrinsic clotting pathway.

Starts from tissue damage → Factor III + Ca²⁺ + Factor VII → activates Factor X.

Briefly describe the intrinsic clotting pathway.

Starts in blood → platelets release PF3 + Ca²⁺ + Factors VIII & IX → activates Factor X.

Briefly describe the common clotting pathway.

Activated Factor X → prothrombinase → turns prothrombin into thrombin → turns fibrinogen into fibrin = clot.