Blood Functions, Composition, and Cell Types: A Comprehensive Review

What are the three functions of blood

Transport; protection; regulation

What type of tissue is blood

Liquid connective tissue

What is the normal pH of blood

7.35-7.45

What is plasma

The liquid portion of blood

What is the most abundant plasma protein

Albumins

What is the function of albumins

Maintain osmolarity, blood pressure, and viscosity

Where are albumins produced

Liver

What are globulins (immunoglobulins)

Antibodies involved in immune defense

What cells produce immunoglobulins

Plasma cells

What is fibrinogen

A plasma protein involved in blood clotting

How does serum differ from plasma

Serum lacks clotting proteins such as fibrinogen

What is hematocrit

The percentage of whole blood volume composed of red blood cells

What process produces all blood cells

Hematopoiesis

Where are blood cells produced

Red bone marrow

What is another name for erythrocytes

Red blood cells

What condition triggers erythropoiesis

Hypoxemia (low oxygen levels)

What hormone stimulates erythropoiesis

Erythropoietin

Where is erythropoietin released from

Kidneys

What tissue is the target of erythropoietin

Red bone marrow

What is the action of erythropoietin

Stimulates red blood cell production

How long do red blood cells live

Approximately 120 days

What is the primary function of red blood cells

Transport oxygen and carbon dioxide

Why is the biconcave shape of red blood cells important

Increases surface area and flexibility for gas exchange

What is a reticulocyte

An immature red blood cell

Are reticulocytes normally found in the blood

Yes, in small amounts

What is the major protein in red blood cells

Hemoglobin

What part of hemoglobin binds oxygen

Iron (Fe2+) in the heme group

Which cells remove old red blood cells from circulation

Macrophages

Where are old red blood cells removed from the body

Spleen and liver

What is globin broken down into

Amino acids

What happens to the amino acids from globin

They are reused for protein synthesis

What is heme broken down into

Iron and bilirubin

Which organs help eliminate bilirubin

Liver and intestines

What is the buildup of bilirubin called

Jaundice

What is polycythemia

An excess of red blood cells

What is anemia

A deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin

What causes iron-deficiency anemia

Inadequate iron intake or absorption

What causes hemorrhagic anemia

Blood loss

What causes sickle-cell disease

A genetic defect in hemoglobin structure

What causes pernicious anemia

Lack of intrinsic factor leading to vitamin B12 deficiency

What is hemolytic anemia

Premature destruction of red blood cells

What is thalassemia

An inherited disorder causing defective hemoglobin synthesis

What is aplastic anemia

Bone marrow failure to produce blood cells

What is another name for leukocytes

White blood cells

Which leukocyte is most abundant

Neutrophils

Which leukocytes are granulocytes

Neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils

Which leukocytes are agranulocytes

Lymphocytes and monocytes

What is the primary function of neutrophils

Phagocytize bacteria

What is the primary function of eosinophils

Defense against parasites and involvement in allergic reactions

What is the primary function of basophils

Release histamine and heparin

What is the primary function of lymphocytes

Specific immune responses

What do monocytes differentiate into in tissues

Macrophages

What is a macrophage

A phagocytic cell derived from monocytes

What is phagocytosis

The engulfing and digestion of pathogens

Which white blood cells are phagocytic

Neutrophils and macrophages

What is another name for thrombocytes

Platelets

What are platelets

Cell fragments involved in blood clotting

What are the functions of platelets

Clot formation, vessel repair, release of clotting factors

What is hemostasis

The cessation of bleeding

What are the three mechanisms of hemostasis

Vascular spasm, platelet plug formation, coagulation

What is the first step of the clotting cascade

Formation of prothrombinase

What does prothrombin convert into during clotting

Thrombin

What does fibrinogen convert into during clotting

Fibrin

What ion is required for clotting reactions

Calcium (Ca2+)

What is the purpose of clot retraction

Stabilize the clot and aid vessel repair

Is blood clotting a positive or negative feedback process

Positive feedback

What is tissue plasminogen activator (TPA)

An enzyme that initiates clot breakdown

What is the function of plasmin

Breaks down fibrin clots

What does Coumadin do

Inhibits vitamin K-dependent clotting factor synthesis

What does heparin do

Enhances antithrombin to inhibit clotting

What is thrombosis

The formation of a clot in an unbroken blood vessel

What is a thrombus

A stationary blood clot

What is an embolus

A traveling blood clot

What is ischemia

Reduced blood flow to tissues

What is hemophilia

An inherited clotting factor deficiency

What are antigens

Surface molecules that trigger immune responses

What is the Rh antigen

The D antigen on red blood cells

What are antibodies

Plasma proteins that attack foreign antigens

What antigen is present on type A blood

A antigen

What antibody is present in type A blood

Anti-B

What antigen is present on type B blood

B antigen

What antibody is present in type B blood

Anti-A

What antigens are present on type AB blood

A and B antigens

What antibodies are present in type AB blood

None

What antigens are present on type O blood

None

What antibodies are present in type O blood

Anti-A and Anti-B

Who is the universal recipient

Type AB

Who is the universal donor

Type O

Why is blood typing important

Prevents transfusion reactions

What is antisera

Antibodies used to identify blood type

What is agglutination

Clumping of red blood cells

What is hemolytic disease of the newborn

Rh incompatibility between mother and fetus

What is RhoGAM

A drug that prevents Rh antibody formation in Rh-negative mothers

What is a transfusion reaction

Immune destruction of donor red blood cells

What is hemolysis

Rupture of red blood cells