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describe the structure of the red cell membrane

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describe the structure of the red cell membrane

-outer hydrophilic region containing glycolipids, glycoproteins and proteins -central hydrophobic region containing proteins, cholesterol and phospholipids inner hydrophobic layer of mesh-like cytoskeletal proteins to support the lipid bilayer

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what are integral membrane proteins?

proteins that extend from the outer surface and traverse the entire lipid bilayer membrane to the inner surface

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what are the two major integral membrane proteins?

glycophorins (A, B and C) Band 3 (anion transporter)

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give 3 other examples of integral membrane proteins

  1. sodium/potassium ATPase

  2. Aquaporin 1

  3. Surface receptors such as TfR

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what are peripheral membrane proteins?

proteins that bind to the cytoplasmic surface of the membrane and forms the red blood cell membrane

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what is the role of the cytoskeleton?

acts as a framework to support the bilayer, maintains the biconcave shape and is responsible for deformability

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name four major peripheral membrane proteins

  1. actin

  2. spectrin

  3. ankyrin

  4. protein 4.1

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what is the role of spectrin?

Controls biconcave shape and deformability of the cell by binding with other peripheral proteins and forming a cytoskeletal network of microfilaments

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what happens if spectrin becomes denatured?

red blood cell becomes spherical and loses its flexibility

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what is the role of ankyrin?

anchors lipid bilayer to membrane skeleton by interacting with spectrin and Band 3

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what is the role of Protein 4.1?

links the cytoskeleton to the membrane by associating with glycophorin stabilises the interaction of spectrin and actin

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what is the role of actin?

responsible for contraction and relaxation of the membrane

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blood group antigens

found on red cell membranes and determine our blood group

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what is the function of red blood cells and how do they achieve this?

-main function is to transport respiratory gases to and from tissues -red blood cells travel the microvascular system without being damaged, retaining a shape that allows gaseous exchange -red cell membrane should be tough, yet flexible

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what determines strength and flexibility of the red cell membrane?

cytoskeletal protein interaction with the membrane lipid bilayer

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what happens if there is an increase in free plasma cholesterol?

accumulation of cholesterol in the red blood cell membrane red blood cells become distorted resulting in the formation of acanthocytes

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what can cause hereditary spherocytosis?

Abnormalities or deficiency to: ankyrin, spectrin A or B, Band 3 and Protein 4.2

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what can cause hereditary elliptocytosis?

Abnormalities or deficiency to: spectrin A or B, spectrin dimer or spectrin-ankyrin association, as well as Protein 4.1

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what is the most abundant haemoglobin in adults?

Alpha 2 Beta 2

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what are haemoglobinopathies?

inherited disorders of haemoglobin

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what are the two categories of haemoglobinopathies?

thalassemias: reduced synthesis of haemoglobin sickle cell disease: change of one amino acid in the globin for another

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what are the two main sources of energy for the red blood cells?

RBC metabolic pathways and the hexose monophosphate shunt

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G6PD

glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase

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G6PD deficiency

NADPH and GSH (glutathione) generation impaired

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What can a G6PD deficiency lead to?

acute haemolysis (bleeding)

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what is G6PD commonly known as?

enzymopathy

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what is the glycotic pathway?

generates energy i the form of ATP that maintains red blood cell shape and deformability

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what does disorder of the glycotic pathway cause?

ATP is depleted meaning cells lose large amounts of potassium and water, becoming dehydrated and rigid

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chronic non-spheryotic haemolytic anaemia

deficiency of vital enzymes required for glycolysis and red blood cell nucleotide metabolism

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microcytes

small red blood cells with less haemoglobin

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macrocytes

large red blood cells with more haemoglobin

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anisocytosis

presence of red blood cells of unequal size

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poikilocytosis

presence of red blood cells of irregular shape

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what is the appearance of blood after centrifugation?

bottom: red blood cells middle: white blood cells and platelets top: plasma

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describe the nature of red blood cells

biconcave without a nucleus, DNA, RNA or mitochondria

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what are red blood cells also known as?

erythrocytes

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how does the shape of red blood cells contribute to their function?

allows greater surface area to carry oxygen and squeeze into the narrow lumen of the vascular tissue

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what is the lifespan of red blood cells?

120 days

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what are white blood cells also known as?

leukocytes

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what are the two most common white blood cells?

neutrophils and lymphocytes

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describe the nature of neutrophils

polymorphonuclear, granulocyte

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polymorphonuclear

irregular, mutli-lobed nucleus

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granulocyte

prominent cytoplasmic granules

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give two examples of neutrophils

basophil and eosinophil

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what is the function of neutrophils?

phagocytose and kill bacteria and fungi

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describe the nature of lymphocytes

large, regular nuclei lack granules

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what is the function of lymphocytes?

immune response, produces antibodies and kill virus infected cells

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what is the role of eosinophils?

kill parasites involved in allergic responses

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what is the role of basophils?

kill parasites involved in allergic responses involved in controlling inflammation

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what is the role of monocytes?

phagocytosis of dead cells and pathogens

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what are platelets also known as?

thrombocytes

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describe the nature of platelets

cytoplasmic fragments with no nucleus, membrane bound contain granules that are important for clotting and modulating inflammation

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haemostasis

blood clotting

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how does blood clot?

fibrinogen (factor 1) is a major plasma protein that is converted to fibrin, forming a blood clot clotting factors control the process and the fibrin clot reinforces primary platelet plug

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where do blood cells come from?

mature blood cells are produced from stem cells in the bone marrow

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haematopoietic stem cells

immature cells within the bone marrow that can develop into all types of blood cells

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give four main components of plasma

water salts proteins organic molecules (metabolites, carbohydrates, lipids)

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what is the difference between plasma and serum?

plasma is the fluid component of the blood, minus the clotting factors serum is the fluid remaining after blood has clotted

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what percentage of the plasma is protein?

7-9%

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what is the main plasma protein?

albumin

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what is the role of plasma proteins?

carry substances which are poorly soluble in water such as lipids, hormones and ions

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how is plasma involved in the immune response?

  1. immunoglobulins transported which are made by B lymphocytes and act as antibodies against pathogens

  2. complement proteins kill bacteria and other pathogens by cooperating with immunoglobulins and white blood cells

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give three functions of blood

transport defence homeostasis

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how is blood used for transport?

blood carries oxygen and nutrients to tissues, removing carbon dioxide and waste products

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what is the role of red blood cells (erythrocytes)?

transports oxygen from the lungs to tissue and removes carbon dioxide

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how is carbon dioxide carried in plasma?

in the form of bicarbonate

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what is the role of carbonic anhydrase?

to aid in the transport of carbon dioxide

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how does a pulse oximeter work?

measures the colour of haemoglobin and determines if a patient is hypoxic

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what is the usual total blood volume for a 70kg male?

~5 litres

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what is the usual plasma volume for a 70kg male?

~2.5-3 litres

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how do you calculate haematocrit?

volume of cells/total volume

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what is the normal haematocrit value?

0.4-0.5

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what does a low haematocrit signify?

anaemia and therefore low oxygen

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what is a full blood count test?

blood test to determine the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets

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how is haemoglobin concentration used?

overall concentration of haemoglobin in the blood- used to diagnose anaemia

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what is mean red cell volume?

size of the red blood cells

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what is the diameter of a red blood cell?

8 micrometres

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what is the thickness of a red blood cell?

2 micrometres

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what is mean red cell haemoglobin content?

how much haemoglobin is in each red cell

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why is total white blood cell count important?

important for diagnosing infection

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what do liver function tests measure?

albumin concentration liver enzymes released from damaged liver cells clotting factors

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why do we test for urea and electrolyte levels?

test kidney function metabolic abnormalities

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what do we screen for a lipid profile?

triglycerides cholesterol LDL and HDL risk of cardiovascular disease

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LDL

low density lipoprotein inflammatory mediator

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