Blood and Immune System Overview

These flashcards cover the key concepts related to blood composition, immune response, blood types, and the effects of various blood conditions.

What is the average volume of blood in adult males?

About 5-6 liters.

What percentage of total body weight does blood make up?

Approximately 8%.

What color is arterial blood and what does it carry?

Bright red and oxygenated.

What is the liquid component of blood?

Plasma.

What are the two main components of blood?

Liquid component (plasma) and cellular component (formed elements).

What are the three formed elements in blood?

Erythrocytes (RBCs), leukocytes (WBCs), and thrombocytes (platelets).

What is the function of erythrocytes?

Transport oxygen throughout the body.

Where does erythropoiesis occur?

In the bone marrow.

What hormone stimulates RBC production?

Erythropoietin (EPO).

What is the normal lifespan of an erythrocyte?

100-120 days.

What is hemoglobin?

The protein in RBCs that binds to oxygen.

What percentage of whole blood does plasma make up?

About 55%.

What are the three main types of plasma proteins?

Albumin, globulins, and fibrinogen.

What is the function of albumin?

Maintains osmotic pressure and regulates blood volume.

What is the role of globulins in blood plasma?

Transport lipids and fat-soluble vitamins; some function in immune defense.

What defines the term 'thrombocyte'?

Also known as platelets, they are involved in blood clotting.

What is hemostasis?

The process of stopping bleeding.

What are the three mechanisms of hemostasis?

Vasoconstriction, platelet plug formation, and coagulation.

What is the primary role of leukocytes?

To protect the body against infectious organisms.

What are the five types of leukocytes?

Neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils.

Which leukocyte is the most numerous?

Neutrophils.

What is the function of neutrophils?

They are the body's first line of defense and destroy bacteria.

What do basophils release during inflammatory responses?

Histamines and anticoagulants like heparin.

What role do macrophages play in the immune system?

Engulf and digest pathogens and present antigens to T cells.

What is an antigen?

A substance that triggers an immune response.

What is the function of antibodies?

They bind to antigens to neutralize pathogens.

What are the components of innate immunity?

Physical barriers, phagocytic cells, cytokines.

What defines adaptive immunity?

The ability to recognize and remember specific pathogens.

What is the role of T lymphocytes?

They recognize and attack infected or cancerous cells.

What do B lymphocytes differentiate into when activated?

Plasma cells, which secrete antibodies.

How do cytotoxic T cells recognize infected cells?

By recognizing specific antigens presented on MHC I molecules.

What is the MHC II system used for?

To present antigens to CD4 helper T cells.

What happens if a blood donor and recipient have incompatible blood types?

The recipient's antibodies will agglutinate the donor's red blood cells.

What characterizes Type O blood in relation to antigens?

Type O blood has no A or B antigens.

What type of antibodies does a person with Type A blood have?

Anti-B antibodies.

What is the consequence of a mismatch in blood transfusion?

It can provoke a serious immune response leading to hemolysis.

What is the function of Rh factor in blood?

It is an antigen that can cause complications in pregnancy if mismatched.

What is hemophilia?

A disorder where blood doesn't clot properly due to lack of clotting factors.

What does leukocytosis refer to?

An abnormal increase in white blood cells.

What does leukopenia refer to?

An abnormal decrease in white blood cells.

What is sickle cell anemia?

A genetic disorder causing abnormally shaped red blood cells that can block blood flow.

What is polycythemia?

An increase in red blood cell count.

What does transferrin do?

It carries iron in the blood to the bone marrow for red blood cell production.

What stimulates the production of erythropoietin?

Low oxygen levels in the blood.

What are APCs in the immune system?

Antigen-presenting cells like macrophages and dendritic cells.

What are the functions of helper T cells?

They assist in activating B cells and cytotoxic T cells.

What is an epitope?

A specific part of an antigen that is recognized by antibodies or T cell receptors.

What does the complement system do?

Enhances the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear pathogens.

What distinguishes innate immunity from adaptive immunity?

Innate immunity is non-specific and immediate; adaptive immunity is specific and slower.

What triggers the inflammatory response?

Tissue damage, infection, or injury.

How do dendritic cells function in the immune response?

They present antigens to T cells, activating the adaptive immune response.

What can cause anemia?

Deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin.

What is the medical term for clotting?

Coagulation.

What is agglutination in the context of blood typing?

Clumping of red blood cells in response to incompatible blood types.

How is blood type determined?

By the presence or absence of specific antigens on the surface of red blood cells.

What are the effects of fever in the immune response?

Enhances phagocytosis and inhibits bacterial growth.

How do antibodies neutralize pathogens?

By binding to them and preventing their interaction with host cells.

What occurs during an immune response to a viral infection?

Immune cells target and destroy infected cells, and antibodies neutralize the virus.

Why is it important for B cells to undergo clonal selection?

To produce a large number of specific antibodies against an antigen.