Blood Basics
What are the functions of blood?
Transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide, hormones, nutrients, and waste. Regulation of body temperature and pH. Protection through blood clotting and the immune response.
List the WBCs in order from most abundant to least abundant.
Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, Basophils.
Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas
Cell fragments that arise from megakaryocytes. Thrombopoiesis is the process of platelet formation in the bone marrow. It is regulated by thrombopoietin.
What is leukopenia?
An abnormal decrease in WBC production. Can be caused by certain drugs (glucocorticosteroids, chemo), radiation, or infection (HIV).
What are agglutinogens?
Agglutinogens are foreign RBC antigens, or what your RBCs make antibodies (agglutinins) against.
What is the most abundant protein in the body? What is its function?
Albumin is the most abundant protein. In the blood, it acts as a carrier protein. It is also important in maintenance of osmotic pressure.
What are the characteristics of neutrophils?
Most abundant WBC. Multi-lobed nucleus (very big). Antibacterial (phagocytes)
What is the second step of hemostasis?
Platelet plug formation. Damage to epithelial tissue triggers platelet activation. They swell and form sticky spikes to plug the injury site. They release special chemical messengers (serotonin and thromboxane) to stimulate other platelets to aggregate (positive feedback loop).
What is hemophilia?
Caused by deficiencies of clotting factors. It is abnormal prolonged bleeding.
What is agglutination?
Agglutination can occur when someone gets a blood transfusion with the wrong blood type. It is the formation of antigen-antibody complexes, causing the RBCs to clump together.
Where is hematopoiesis and where does it take place?
Hematopoiesis is the process of blood cell formation. It occurs in the red bone marrow.
What are the characteristics of eosinophils?
2nd to least abundant WBC. Bilobed nucleus. Attack parasites. Involved in allergies.
What is fibrinolysis?
The removal of a clot. Stimulated by plasminogen (present within the clot) being activated to plasmin. Plasmin catalyzes fibrinolysis and helps break down the clot.
What is mononucleosis?
aka kissing disease or Epstein-Barr virus. Caused by abnormally large lymphocytes (mistaken for monocytes).
What antigens and antibodies do people with type A blood make?
People with type A blood have surface antigen A and make antibodies against antigen B (anti-B antibodies).
What is erythropoiesis? How is it regulated?
Erythropoiesis is the production of RBCs. It is triggered by hypoxia, which could result from decreased oxygen availability, decreased hemoglobin, or decreased numbers of RBCs. Erythropoietin (EPO) is produced by the kidneys and stimulates RBC production.
What are the characteristics of basophils?
Least abundant WBC. Purple/dark blue. Granules of histamine and heparin (trigger vasodilation --> inflammation). Mast cells (rapid alert system).
What is the difference between a thrombus and an embolus?
A thrombus is a persistent clot that blocks a vessel. An embolus is a free floating clot that may get stuck in smaller vessels down the line.
What is pernicious anemia?
An autoimmune disorder in which the intrinsic factor (IF) needed for normal B12 absorption is not produced. B12 absorption is needed for erythropoiesis (RBC production).
What antibodies do people with type AB blood make?
People with type AB blood do not make anti-A or anti-B antibodies. This is why they are the universal receiver.
What are the components of blood? What is the hematocrit?
Plasma and the formed elements (erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets). The hematocrit is the percentage of blood that consists of RBCs (45%, higher in males).
What are the characteristics of monocytes?
Largest WBC. U-shaped nucleus. Pseudopods (false feet). Differentiate into macrophages and eat pathogens and damaged tissue. Activate lymphocytes.
What are the differences between the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of blood clotting?
The intrinsic pathway is triggered by negatively changed surfaces (activated platelets and collagen). Required factors are already present. It is a much slower process.
The extrinsic pathway is triggered by blood contacting tissues outside of the blood vessel (tissue factor). It is a much faster process.
Prothrombin activator formation is the end of phase 1 of both pathways.
What is diffuse intravascular coagulation (DIC)?
Caused by overactive clotting factors in normal, small undamaged vessels. Can cause blockages. It consumes platelets and clotting factors, resulting in the inability to control bleeding elsewhere --> hemorrhaging.
What is erythroblastosis fetalis?
Occurs during second pregnancy. An Rh- mother has an Rh+ baby during her first pregnancy. This introduces the Rh+ antigen into the body, causing the body to create anti-Rh antibodies. During the second pregnancy, if the fetus is Rh+, the mother's antibodies will attack the fetus.