Bio 150 week 10 notes

• What are the formed (cellular) elements of blood?


  Erythrocytes (RBCs), Leukocytes (WBCs), Thrombocytes (Platelets), Plasma
• What is the function of plasma in blood?


  Plasma is the liquid extracellular matrix of the blood
• What are the functions of blood?

  Transport of nutrients, oxygen, hormones, waste, etc.; Defense through WBCs (immunity) and Platelets (clotting); Homeostasis including thermoregulation and maintaining chemical balance
• What does hematocrit measure?


  Percentage of formed elements in whole blood
• What is the normal percentage of RBCs in whole blood?


  About 45% of the blood volume
• What does the buffy coat in blood consist of?

  WBCs and platelets, less than 1% of blood volume
• What is the percentage of plasma in whole blood?


  About 55% of blood volume
• What does a CBC (Complete Blood Count) measure?


  RBC count (and size), WBC count, platelet count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin concentration (including amount per RBC)
• How much blood is in the human body?

  4-6 Liters
• What color is oxygenated blood?

  Bright red
• What color is deoxygenated blood?

  Dark red
• What is the viscosity of blood compared to water?

  4-5x the viscosity of water
• What mainly affects the viscosity of blood?

  RBC and protein content
• What is the temperature of blood compared to normal body temperature?

  Slightly higher - 38 °C (100.4 °F) vs. 37 °C (98.6 °F)
• What is the pH of blood?

  Around 7.4 (7.35-7.45 normal range)
• What is the primary component of blood plasma?

  92% water
• What is the function of Albumin in blood plasma?

  - Binds hydrophobic fatty acids and steroid hormones for transport

  - Most significant contributor to the osmotic pressure of blood
• What are the types of globulins found in blood plasma?

  - Alpha and beta globulins: transport iron, lipids, and fat-soluble vitamins to the cells

  - Gamma globulins: part of immunity, produced by Plasma Cells
• What is the role of Fibrinogen in blood plasma?


  - Necessary for blood clotting
• What are the components of blood plasma besides water and plasma proteins?

  - 1% electrolytes (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Cl- etc)

  - dissolved gases (O2, CO2, N2)

  - organic nutrients (vitamins, lipids, glucose, amino acids)

  - metabolic wastes
• Where does hemopoiesis occur in embryos?

  Yolk sac
• Where does hemopoiesis occur in fetuses?

  Liver, spleen, lymphatic tissue, and red bone marrow
• Where does hemopoiesis occur in children?


  Red bone marrow in spongy bone and medullary cavity of long bones
• Where does hemopoiesis occur in adults?

  Red bone marrow in certain spongy bone (cranial and pelvic bones, the vertebrae, the sternum, and the proximal epiphyses of the femur and humerus)
• What happens if bone marrow fails in terms of hemopoiesis?

  Liver and spleen can be reactivated for extramedullary hemopoiesis
• What is hemopoiesis?


  Production of blood cells
• How long do most blood cells live?

  Only a few hours to a few weeks
• What is the primary function of erythrocytes?

  Transport oxygen and carbon dioxide
• What is the cytoskeletal protein found in erythrocytes that allows them to squeeze through narrow spaces?

  Spectrin
• What is the surface area-to-volume ratio of erythrocytes optimized for?

  Maximizing diffusion
• What is the function of reticulocytes in the blood?

  To indicate if red blood cells are being produced at a normal rate
• What are the components of hemoglobin (Hb)?

  4 globin protein chains (2 alpha and 2 beta), each containing a heme molecule with an Fe2+ ion to bind up to 4 oxygen molecules per hemoglobin molecule
• What is oxyhemoglobin?


  Hemoglobin carrying a full load of 4 oxygen molecules to tissues
• What is deoxyhemoglobin?

  Hemoglobin carrying less than a full load of oxygen
• What is carbaminohemoglobin?


  Hemoglobin carrying CO2 away from tissues (23-24% of CO2 binds to hemoglobin)
• What is anemia?

  Anemia is characterized by a low number of red blood cells or hemoglobin, leading to low oxygen carrying capacity and symptoms like fatigue, lethargy, cognitive impairment, headaches, irritability, shortness of breath, and increased risk for infection.
• What is polycythemia?

  Polycythemia is a condition characterized by a high red blood cell count, which increases blood viscosity, resistance, pressure, and strains the heart. It can be caused by factors like dehydration, high altitudes, endurance training, or cancer of the red blood cell line.
• What is hypoxemia?

  Hypoxemia is a condition characterized by low blood oxygen levels, typically indicated by an oxygen saturation (O2 Sat) below 95%.
• What is hypoxia?

  Hypoxia refers to low oxygen levels in the tissues, which can stimulate the kidneys to secrete erythropoietin (EPO) and trigger red blood cell production.
• What is percent saturation (O2 Sat)?

  Percent saturation (O2 Sat) is a measure of the percentage of hemoglobin binding sites occupied by oxygen, typically measured using a pulse oximeter (Pulse-Ox).