Human Physiology: Blood and Respiratory System Study Guide

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the blood and respiratory system topics for Human Physiology Summative Exam Two, including blood composition, hematopoiesis, white blood cell types, hemostasis, blood typing, alveolar mechanics, and respiratory volumes.

Blood Fractionation Layers

The separation of blood into three components after centrifugation: a top yellow plasma layer ($55\%$), a thin white middle buffy coat consisting of white blood cells and platelets ($<1\%$), and a bottom red layer of red blood cells ($45\%$).

Blood Plasma

A pale yellow fluid making up $55\%$ of blood, composed mainly of water along with dissolved nutrients, gases, hormones, ions, waste products, and plasma proteins.

Albumin

A plasma protein that helps regulate fluid volume in the body.

Serum

Blood plasma from which the clotting proteins have been removed.

Hemopoiesis

The process of blood cell production occurring in the red bone marrow.

Erythrocytes

Disc-shaped blood cells lacking a nucleus that originate in the red bone marrow, contain hemoglobin, and function to transport oxygen to tissues.

Leukocytes

Nucleated blood cells (encompassing $5$ distinct types) formed in the red bone marrow that protect the body against harmful invaders and infection.

Thrombocytes

Cell fragments formed in the red bone marrow that participate in hemostasis by forming a platelet plug in damaged blood vessels to initiate clotting.

Erythropoietin

A hormone released by the kidneys in response to tissue hypoxia that stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells.

Reticulocytes

Immature red blood cells released from the bone marrow into the bloodstream that mature within $48\text{ hours}$.

Neutrophils

The most prevalent white blood cells ($55\text{--}70\%$ of total white blood count) responsible for phagocytosis.

Eosinophils

White blood cells comprising $1\text{--}3\%$ of the white blood count that function in inflammatory responses and allergic reactions.

Basophils

White blood cells making up $0\text{--}1\%$ of the white blood count that participate in inflammatory responses and release heparin.

Lymphocytes

White blood cells that constitute $25\text{--}38\%$ of the white blood count and are primarily responsible for immunity.

Monocytes

White blood cells comprising $3\text{--}8\%$ of the white blood count that primarily perform phagocytosis.

Hemostasis

The physiological process of stopping blood loss from an injured vessel, occurring in three steps: (A) vascular spasm (vessel constriction), (B) platelet plug formation, and (C) coagulation (blood clotting cascade).

Prothrombin

An inactive plasma protein synthesized by the liver that is converted into the active enzyme thrombin during the clotting cascade.

Thrombin

An active enzyme that converts soluble fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin threads during blood coagulation.

Fibrinogen

A soluble plasma protein that serves as the precursor molecule to fibrin during blood clot formation.

Fibrin

Insoluble protein threads that interlace to form a sticky mesh network that traps blood cells and solidifies a blood clot.

Rh Positive Blood

Blood characterized by red blood cells that express the Rh antigen on their cell surface.

Type O Blood

An ABO blood group characterized by having no antigens on the red blood cells, containing both Anti-A and Anti-B antibodies in the plasma, and having compatibility exclusively with type O donor blood.

Type AB Blood

An ABO blood group characterized by having both Antigen A and Antigen B on the red blood cells, no ABO antibodies in the blood, and compatibility with types A, B, AB, and O.

Pleural Membranes

Serous membranes that enclose the lungs, maintain intrapleural pressure, and secrete fluid to reduce friction during respiratory movements.

Surfactant

A substance that reduces surface tension in the alveoli, favoring alveolar expansion rather than collapse.

Alveolar-Capillary Membrane

An extremely thin respiratory boundary, only one cell layer thick, providing a massive surface area that facilitates rapid diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Oxyhemoglobin

The chemical complex in which $98\%$ of oxygen is transported through the blood bound to hemoglobin molecules.

Bicarbonate

The principal chemical form through which carbon dioxide is transported in the blood ($70\%$ converted to bicarbonate, with $20\%$ bound to hemoglobin and $10\%$ dissolved in plasma).

Tidal Volume

The volume of air normally moved into or out of the lungs during a single breath.

Residual Volume

The volume of air that remains trapped inside the lungs following a maximum forced exhalation.

Inspiratory Reserve Volume

The volume of air that can be forcefully inhaled beyond the normal resting tidal volume.

Expiratory Reserve Volume

The volume of air that can be forcefully exhaled beyond the normal resting tidal volume.