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Bio 169 Blood & Defense Study Guide
Spring Semester, 2005

Learning Objectives, Topics, & Keywords

 

Reading: Martini, Chapter 19

Objective 1. Know the functions of blood

transport (metabolites, gases, vitamins, hormones, heat, cells, pressure)

protection (defense system (immune cells and immune proteins), clotting)

 

Objective 2. Know the physical characteristics and composition of the blood

pH 7.4 (slightly alkaline)

buffers

~7 % of body weight

viscosity about 5X that of water

depends on hydration level and proportion of cells

plasma (~55%)

water (92%)

salts and other solutes

osmotic pressure (both from small molecules, ions and "colloids" (= proteins)

proteins

albumin (colloid osmotic pressure, fatty acid transport)

globulins (for example, immune globulins = antibodies; hormone transport globulins)

fibrinogen (precursor of fibrin for coagulation)

formed elements (normal, ~45%)

hematocrit is fraction of blood volume occupied by formed elements

erythrocytes (RBC’s) (normal, ~5.4 million/µl in male, ~4.6 million/µl in female) (why are females lower?)

leukocytes (WBCs) (normal, 6,000 to 10, 000/µl)

granulocytes

neutrophils (anti-bacterial; also called, polymorphonuclear leucocytes, PMNs, polys)

basophils (inflammation; circulating form of mast cells)

eosinophils (allergy; pooly understood)

agranulocytes

lymphocytes (B and T)

monocytes (called macrophages after entering tissues)

platelets (thrombocytes)

 

 

Objective 3. Understand blood cell formation in broad outline and its regulation by growth factors

hematopoiesis

red bone marrow

pluripotent stem cell

differentiates into myeloid and lymphoid cell lines

differentiates into 5 main cell lines (4 myeloid, 1 lymphoid) under the control of cytokines

cytokines (regulatory hormones)

erythropoeitin (promotes erythropoesis; from kidney; used as drug: Epogen® or Procrit®)

granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF; neutrophils; as drug: Neupogen®)

interleukins (e.g., IL-1, IL-2, etc)

 

Objective 4. Know the structure, composition, function, production, and destruction of RBCs

structure

enucleated

biconcave disk

flexible when young

large surface area/volume ratio

hemoglobin (4 each: globins, hemes, iron atoms -- to which O2 binds)

heme

globin (globular protein subunit)

macrophages in spleen & liver destroy old (rigid) RBCs (survive about 120 days)

iron recycling: stored in liver and spleen bound to ferritin

heme --> biliverdin --> bilirubin --> bile (why feces is brown)

bilirubin + bacteria in gut --> urobilin (why urine is yellow)

Objective 5. Know the circulating leukocytes and their functions

phagocytosis: neutrophils and monocytes (macrophages)

chemotaxis

lysosomes

peroxisomes

inflammation (pro: basophils; secrete histamine; anti: eosinophils;) (why is inflammation good?)

antigen

antibody

lymphocytes (mostly in lymph nodes; Why do lymph nodes enlarge?)

humoral-based immunity from B lymphocytes (secrete specific antibodies)

cell-based immunity from T lymphocytes (mature in thymus): helper (CD-4); killer T

leukopenia, neutropenia

Objective 6. Know the outlines of the hemostasis mechanisms (two systems: platelets and fibrin)

hemostasis (= blood clotting)

thrombus

platetets (normal, 250,000 — 400,000/µl; too low: thrombocytopenia; symptoms?)

vascular spasm (small arteries)

platelet plug

adhesion

aggregation

syneresis

coagulation (clotting - know "common pathway")

fibrinogen (soluble subunit in plasma) --> fibrin (insoluble thread-like polymer)

catalysed by thrombin

prothrombin --> thrombin

catalysed by prothrombinase (also called, thrombinase)

many cofactors required:

factor VIII (missing in hemophilia)

calcium ion (How to stop collected blood from coagulating? Or, what's in the lavenderVacutainer tubes?)

 

 

clot dissolving (thrombolysis)

plasmin (proteolytic enzyme; from plasminogen)

tissue plasminogen activator ( abbrev: t-PA) converts plasminogen to plasmin

 

Objective 7. Understand the ABO and Rh antigen systems and their use in blood typing

A, B antigens on surface of RBCs

A, B agglutinins (antibodies in plasma -- clump injected foreign RBCs)

Rh antigen

erythroblastosis fetalis

preventive treatment with Rhogam®

Objective 8. Understand the causes and treatments of the principal anemias
(self study - use textbook, Applications Manual, or other sources as needed)

anemia (= low hemoglobin)

normal hemoglobin value = ~15 g hemoglobin/100ml of blood

pernicious (missing intrinsic factor --> lack of vitamin B12 uptake from diet)

nutritional (e.g., iron deficiency, inadequate protein intake , inadequate calories)

hemorrhagic (usually internal, but excessive menses is a common cause)

hemolytic (breaking of RBCs)

aplastic (bone marrow shuts down )

sickle cell

Hb-S (mutation in hemoglobin A gene--> sickle cell anemia)


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Durham Technical Community College
Durham, NC 27703
Last updated 3 February 2005