blood

What are the main components of blood?

Plasma (55%), Formed elements (45%)

What percentage of plasma is water and solutes?

Water = 91%, Solutes = 9% (includes glucose, amino acids, lipids, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hormones)

What are the formed elements of blood?

Red Blood Cells (RBCs), White Blood Cells (WBCs), Platelets

What is the ratio of RBCs to Platelets to WBCs?

700:40:1

What are the key characteristics of Red Blood Cells (RBCs)?

No nucleus, biconcave discs, contain hemoglobin, transport oxygen and carbon dioxide.

• What is the function of hemoglobin in RBCs?

Hemoglobin binds to oxygen and carbon dioxide to transport them throughout the body.

What are the disorders related to red blood cells?

Polycythemia (too many RBCs), Anemia (too few RBCs)

• What are the key characteristics of White Blood Cells (WBCs)?

Have a nucleus, larger than RBCs, involved in immune function.

What are the five types of WBCs from most to least numerous?

Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, Basophils ("Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas")

What are the disorders related to white blood cells?

Leukocytosis (too many WBCs, indicates infection), Leukopenia (too few WBCs, weak immune system)

: What are platelets and their function?

Platelets are cell fragments formed in the bone marrow, involved in blood clotting and forming a platelet plug to stop bleeding.

What are the disorders related to platelets?

Thrombocythemia (too many platelets), Thrombocytopenia (too few platelets)

What is blood typing based on in the ABO/Rh system?

Blood type is determined by the antigens present on RBCs (A, B, or both) and the antibodies in the plasma (Anti-A, Anti-B).

What is the difference between antigens and antibodies in blood typing?

Antigens are proteins on RBCs that determine blood type, while antibodies are proteins in plasma that attack foreign antigens.

What are the four blood types and their antigens?

• Type A: A antigen

• Type B: B antigen

• Type AB: A and B antigens

• Type O: No antigens

What are the antibodies present in each blood type?

• Type A: Anti-B antibody

• Type B: Anti-A antibody

• Type AB: No antibodies

• Type O: Anti-A and Anti-B antibodies

What blood type can Type A donors give to?

Type A, Type AB

What is the universal donor and universal recipient?

• Universal Donor: Type O

• Universal Recipient: Type AB

What blood type can Type B donors give to?

Type B, Type AB

What blood type can Type AB donors give to?

Type AB

What blood type can Type O donors give to?

All blood types (universal donor)

What blood type can Type A receive from?

Type A, Type O

What blood type can Type AB receive from?

All blood types

What blood type can Type O receive from?

Type O

What is the Rh factor and how does it affect blood type?

The Rh factor is an antigen on RBCs. If present, the blood type is Rh+; if absent, the blood type is Rh-.

What can happen if an Rh- mother carries an Rh+ baby?

The mother can develop anti-Rh antibodies, which may cause hemolytic disease in a second Rh+ baby.

What is the hematocrit, and what is the normal range?

Hematocrit is the percentage of RBCs in blood.

• Female: 38%-46%

• Male: 40%-54%

What is coagulation and how do platelets assist?

Coagulation is the process of blood clotting. Platelets form a plug and release fibrin, which traps RBCs to form a stable clot.

What is the normal coagulation time?

2-6 minutes