Lecture 1

• What are the main components of blood?

  Red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets
• What is the primary function of blood?

  Transporting gases, nutrients, and waste
• What is the structure of an erythrocyte?

  Biconcave shape, lacks organelles
• What is anaemia?

  Reduction in haemoglobin concentration
• What are the types of blood tests?

  Full blood count, biochemical tests
• What are the cellular components of blood?

  Erythrocytes, leucocytes, thrombocytes
• Where are blood cells made?

  In the bone marrow from stem cells
• What is the life cycle of a reticulocyte?

  It matures into an erythrocyte

  
• What is the primary function of platelets?

  Blood clotting
• What is the composition of plasma?

  90% water, 10% solutes
• What are the main solutes in plasma?

  Nutrients, waste products, proteins
• How does blood maintain body temperature?

  By regulating heat distribution
• What role does blood play in pH control?

  It removes hydrogen ions
• How does blood clear toxins?

  By transporting waste products to excretion sites
• What is the structure of hemoglobin?

  Quaternary structure, iron-rich
• What is cooperative binding in haemoglobin?

  Increased affinity as more O2 binds
• What happens to haemoglobin in the lungs?

  It binds oxygen with high affinity
• What is the Bohr effect?

  Lower pH decreases haemoglobin's affinity for O2
• What is the role of carbonic anhydrase?

  Catalyses conversion of CO2 to carbonic acid

  
• What is erythropoiesis?

  Production of red blood cells in bone marrow
• What triggers the release of erythropoietin?

  Lower oxygen carrying capability detected by kidneys
• What are the symptoms of anaemia?

  Fatigue, pallor, irregular heartbeat
• What is a hypochromic cell?

  A red blood cell with less haemoglobin
• What is the significance of a full blood count?

  It assesses overall health and detects disorders
• What are the key functions of blood?

  • Transport of gases (O2, CO2)
  • Nutrient delivery
  • Waste removal
  • Temperature regulation
  • pH control
  • Immune response
• What are the stages of erythropoiesis?

  1. Hematopoietic stem cell
  2. Myeloid stem cell → megakaryocyte → platelets
  3. Lymphoid stem cell → lymphocyte
  4. Monocyte → macrophage
  5. Reticulocyte → erythrocyte
• What are the clinical consequences of anaemia?

  • Reduction in haemoglobin concentration
  • Causes: reduced RBC production, blood loss
  • Symptoms: fatigue, pallor, irregular heartbeat
• What are the different morphologies of red blood cells?

  • Hypochromic cell: less haemoglobin
  • Sickle cell: abnormal shape
  • Spherocyte: sphere-shaped instead of biconcave

  
• What is the role of haemoglobin in oxygen transport?

  • Binds oxygen in lungs
  • Releases oxygen in tissues
  • Cooperative binding increases efficiency
• What is the significance of the oxygen dissociation curve?

  • Illustrates haemoglobin's affinity for oxygen
  • Leftward shift: increased affinity
  • Rightward shift: decreased affinity
• What is the role of bicarbonate in CO2 transport?

  • Dissociates from carbonic acid
  • Binds to hemoglobin
  • Dissolves in plasma for transport