Components and Functions of Blood

A comprehensive 50-card vocabulary set covering the composition, cellular elements, functions, and clinical considerations of blood.

Circulatory System

The body's transportation network that operates 24/7 to move vital materials such as nutrients, gases, hormones, and waste products.

Homeostasis

The body's state of internal balance, which blood helps maintain by regulating pH, body temperature, and fluid volume.

Blood pH Balance

A homeostatic role of blood that maintains the acidity and alkalinity of the blood at a stable level of around $7.4$.

Temperature Regulation by Blood

The process by which blood absorbs and distributes heat produced by active muscles and organs throughout the remainder of the body.

Fluid Volume Regulation

The maintenance of the appropriate quantity of water within blood vessels to ensure stable blood pressure.

Blood Plasma

The pale yellowish liquid matrix of blood that carries dissolved substances and allows cells to circulate freely.

Water in Plasma

The solvent component that accounts for approximately $92\%$ of plasma volume, carrying dissolved substances.

Plasma Proteins

Constituents making up about $7\%$ of plasma that carry out vital functions such as maintaining osmotic pressure and facilitating blood clotting.

Albumin

A major plasma protein responsible for balancing fluid and maintaining osmotic pressure in the blood.

Globulins

Plasma proteins that act as antibodies to defend the body against infections.

Fibrinogen

A crucial plasma clotting protein that converts into insoluble fibrin threads when activated.

Fibrin

Insoluble protein threads produced from activated fibrinogen that weave together to form a blood clot.

Serum

The fluid remaining after whole blood has clotted and clotting proteins (such as fibrinogen) have been removed.

Red Bone Marrow

The primary site where all formed elements of the blood originate from stem cells.

Hematopoiesis

The process of blood cell formation wherein stem cells in the red bone marrow differentiate and mature into specific blood cells.

Formed Elements

The cellular structures suspended in blood plasma, comprising erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white blood cells), and platelets.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells specialized primarily for transporting oxygen from the lungs to peripheral tissues.

Hemoglobin

A red protein pigment packed within erythrocytes that binds oxygen in the lungs and releases it in tissues.

Biconcave Shape

The indented, donut-like geometry of red blood cells that increases surface area for gas exchange and enables flexibility to transit narrow capillaries.

Anemia

A clinical condition characterized by a deficiency in hemoglobin or a low red blood cell count, leading to reduced oxygen delivery to tissues.

Microcytic Anemia

A morphological form of anemia where circulating erythrocytes appear noticeably smaller and paler than normal red blood cells on a blood smear.

Leukocytes

White blood cells that constitute the body's defense army, protecting against pathogens, clearing debris, and entering tissues to fight infections.

Neutrophils

The most abundant white blood cells, serving as the first responders and primary phagocytes in the blood to engulf bacteria.

Lymphocytes

White blood cells comprising $20\text{--}30\%$ of leukocytes, which include B-cells and T-cells that target specific pathogens.

B-cells

A specific subclass of lymphocytes that play a vital role in adaptive immunity by recognizing and targeting specific pathogens.

T-cells

A specific subclass of lymphocytes that participate in targeted immune defense against foreign pathogens.

Monocytes

The largest type of white blood cells, which circulate in the blood before migrating into tissues to differentiate into macrophages.

Macrophages

Large phagocytic cells derived from monocytes that reside in tissues to engulf large quantities of cellular debris and pathogens.

Granulocytes

A class of white blood cells characterized by visible granules in their cytoplasm, comprising neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils.

Eosinophils

Granulocytes with a bilobed nucleus and red-orange granules that fight parasites and participate in allergic reactions.

Basophils

Granulocytes containing large dark granules that obscure the nucleus and release histamine to promote inflammation during allergic responses.

Histamine

A chemical mediator released by basophils that promotes an inflammatory response during allergic reactions.

Phagocytosis

The cellular process in which certain white blood cells engulf and digest microorganisms or foreign debris within an enzyme-rich vesicle.

Phagosome

The internal membrane-bound vesicle formed when a phagocyte encloses an engulfed bacterium or foreign particle.

Phagolysosome

A digestive structure formed by the fusion of a phagosome with a lysosome, where enzymes break down internalized foreign material.

Platelets (Thrombocytes)

Cell fragments that circulate in the blood and play an essential role in hemostasis by sticking to damaged vessels and initiating clotting.

Hemostasis

The physiological mechanism that stops bleeding, involving vessel constriction, platelet plug formation, and coagulation factor activation.

Vessel Constriction

The initial step of hemostasis wherein a damaged blood vessel contracts to reduce blood flow and limit blood loss.

Primary Hemostasis

The second stage of hemostasis in which activated platelets adhere to the site of vascular injury to form a platelet clot.

Secondary Hemostasis

The third stage of hemostasis where coagulation factors trigger the formation of a stable fibrin mesh around the platelet clot.

ABO Blood Group System

The blood classification system determined by the presence or absence of inherited A and B antigens on the surface of red blood cells.

Type A Blood

A blood group characterized by A antigens on red blood cell membranes and anti-B antibodies in the plasma.

Type B Blood

A blood group characterized by B antigens on red blood cell membranes and anti-A antibodies in the plasma.

Type AB Blood

A blood group characterized by both A and B antigens on erythrocytes and no ABO antibodies in plasma, making the individual a Universal Recipient.

Type O Blood

A blood group characterized by neither A nor B antigens on erythrocytes and both anti-A and anti-B antibodies in plasma, making the individual a Universal Donor.

Rh Factor (Antigen D)

An erythrocyte surface antigen that designates blood as Rh-positive when present and Rh-negative when absent.

Hemolytic Anemia (Rh Incompatibility)

A clinical condition where an Rh-negative parent develops antibodies against an Rh-positive fetus, which attack fetal erythrocytes in subsequent pregnancies.

Prothrombin

A plasma protein manufactured in the liver with the assistance of Vitamin K that is essential for the blood clotting cascade.

Hemolysis

The rupture or breakdown of red blood cells, which causes the release of hemoglobin into the surrounding plasma.

Mismatched Transfusion Reaction

A severe immunological reaction where recipient antibodies attack foreign donor red blood cells, causing clumping, hemolysis, and potentially kidney failure or death.