A&P; II Exam 3 Study Guide – Blood, Cardiovascular, and Respiratory Systems

These flashcards cover key concepts related to blood, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems, including their functions, components, and physiological processes.

What components make up the circulatory system?

The circulatory system includes the heart, blood vessels, and blood.

Describe the three main functions of the circulatory system.

The functions are transport (gases, nutrients, hormones, wastes), protection (immune defense, clotting), and regulation (pH, temperature, fluid balance).

List the types of formed elements in blood.

Erythrocytes (RBCs), platelets, and leukocytes (including Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, Basophils).

What are the three layers of centrifuged blood?

Plasma (55%), buffy coat (WBCs + platelets <1%), and erythrocytes (45%).

What are the major plasma proteins and their functions?

Albumins (osmotic pressure), globulins (immunity, transport), and fibrinogen (clotting).

What is viscosity in the context of blood?

Viscosity refers to the resistance to flow in blood; high viscosity results in sluggish flow and low viscosity results in excessive flow.

What is hemopoiesis?

Hemopoiesis is the formation of blood cells in the red bone marrow.

What role does erythropoietin (EPO) play in erythrocyte homeostasis?

EPO from the kidneys stimulates RBC production when oxygen levels are low.

What is polycythemia and its two types?

Polycythemia is an increase in red blood cells; primary is a bone marrow disorder, secondary is due to hypoxia.

How is blood typing determined in the ABO/Rh system?

Blood typing is determined by the presence of antigens on RBCs and antibodies in plasma; mismatches can lead to agglutination.

What are the differences between thrombus and embolus?

A thrombus is a clot in an unbroken vessel, while an embolus is a clot that travels through the bloodstream.

Describe the composition and characteristics of arteries, veins, and capillaries.

Arteries have thick walls and carry blood away from the heart, veins have thin walls and valves for low-pressure return, and capillaries are exchange vessels that regulate flow.

What is the function of surfactant in the respiratory system?

Surfactant reduces surface tension in the alveoli and prevents their collapse.

What happens during pulmonary ventilation?

During inspiration, the diaphragm contracts, increasing volume and decreasing pressure; during expiration, the diaphragm relaxes, decreasing volume and increasing pressure.

What is the Bohr effect?

The Bohr effect describes how increased carbon dioxide and decreased pH lead to hemoglobin releasing oxygen.

How do central and peripheral chemoreceptors influence breathing?

Central chemoreceptors respond to pH changes in cerebrospinal fluid, while peripheral chemoreceptors respond to oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.