Protective functions of blood:

1.  prevent blood loss by forming platelets and plasma protein to initiate clot formation.  2.  Prevent infection by antibodies, complement proteins and WBC, all of which help defend against foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. 

Plasma Protein

Albumin

most abundant plasma protein, 60% of the total protein, made by the liver, plays an important role in osmotic balance, contributes to the viscosity of blood, transportation of lipids/hormones/calcium, helps to maintain pH.

formed elements

Globulins:
alpha, beta-
gamma-

36% of plasma proteins
Alpha, beta- produced by liver, mostly transport proteins that bind to lipids, metal ions, and fat-soluable vitamins. 
gamma-antibodies released by by plasma cells during immune response. 

Spectrin

characteristics of an erythrocyte:

1-biconcave shape and small size.  Since no area within cytoplasm is far from the surface, the biconcave disc shape is ideal for gas exchange.  2-not counting water content, and erythrocyte is 97% hemoglobin, the molecule that binds to and trasports respiratory gases.  3-erythrocytes lack a mitchiondria and generate ATP by anaerobic mechansims, making them perfect oxygen transporters since they dont consume any of the oxygen. 

Low hemoglobin content is:

Iron-deficiency anemia is

a secondary result of hemorrhagic anemias, but it also results from inadequate intake of iron-containing foods and impaired iron absorption.  Erythrocytes produced are small and pale, called microcytes. 

thalassemias

Sickle cell anemia-

abnormal hemoglobin.  hemoglobin S (HbS), results from a change in just one of the 287 amiono acids in a beta chain of the globin molecule.  This causes the beta chains to stick together under low oxygen conditions, forming stiff rods so that hemoglobin S becomes spiky and sharp.  Cresent shape RBCs. 

Granulocytes:

Neutrophils:

accounting for 50-70% of WBCs.  The most abundant type of white blood cell.  Neutrophils are phagocytic and tend to self-destruct as they destroy foreign invaders, limiting their life span to a few days.  Neutrophils are our bodys bacteria slayers. 

Infectious Mononucleosis

Platelets

not cells.  They are cytoplasmic fragmentsof very large cells called megakaryocytes.  Platelets are essential for the clotting process that occurs in plasma when blood vessels are ruptured or their lining is injured. 

Thromboxane A2 at an open wound

prostacyclin

prostaglandin produced by intact endothelial cells that is a strong inhibitor of platelet aggregation.  Once reinforced with fibrin threads (molecular glue) the platelets are quite effective in sealing the small tears in blood vessels. 

Coagulation

Coagulation process: 1-3

1-complex substance called prothrombin activator is formed, 2-Prothrombin activator converts a plasma protein called prothrombin into thrombin (an enzyme), 3-thrombin catalyzes the joining of fibrinogen molecules in plams to a fibrin mesh, which traps blood cells and seal the hole until it can be permanently repaired. 

Procoagulants

anticoagulants

Name 3 Phases to Prothrombin Activity

Phase 1-clotting is either by intrinsic or extrinsic pathway.  Both are usually triggered by the same tissue damaging events.  Phase 2-Prothrombin activator catalyzes the transformation of the plasma protein prothrombin to the active enzyme thrombin.  Phase 3- Thrombin catalyzes the plymerization of fibrinogen.  These long, hairlike insoluable fibrinogen molecules align, and act as the glue that keeps the platelets together, making the structural basis of the clot.  In the presence of fibrin, plasma becomes gel-like and traps any formed elements that try to pass through it. 

Thrombus

Embolus & embolism

A thrombus breaks away from the vessel wall and floats freely in the bloodstream, it becomes a Embolus.  However, if the embolus encounters a blood vessel too narrow for it to pass through; then it becomes an Embolism, obstructing the vessel. 

Abnormal increase in the number og RBCs cause what? 

condition of too few RBCs or RBCs with hemoglobin deficiencies causes what? 

abnormal decrease in the number of WBCs, causes what? 

why is differential WBC count more valuable than total WBC count? 

With a differential WBC, one can determine the source of pathology by evaluating different lekocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, etc,).  where as the total WBC count represents the blood as a whole. 

No visible cytoplasmic granules are present in:

Place the following in correct developmental sequence: 1-reticulocyte, 2-proerythroblast, 3-normoblast, 4-late erythroblast

You are given a capillary tube containing uncenterfuged blood and told to determine the patients hematocrit.  The original column height before centerfuging is 50mm.  After spinning, the bottom layer of the capillary tube containing cells is 20mm and the top laer containing plasma is 30mm.  What is the patients hematocrit value? 

Height of tube of element (mm) divided by the Height of origninal tube of whole bloof (mm) mulitplied by 100.  So, 20mm divided by 50mm mulitplied by 100= 40% RBC