1What is blood?
Blood is the life-sustaining transport vehicle of the cardiovascular system
2What are the main functions of blood?
Transport, regulation, and protection
3What does blood transport to body cells?
Oxygen (O₂) and nutrients
4What wastes does blood transport for elimination?
Metabolic wastes to lungs and kidneys
5How does blood transport hormones?
From endocrine organs to target organs
6How does blood maintain body temperature?
By absorbing and distributing heat
7How does blood maintain pH?
Using buffers like bicarbonate ions
8How does blood maintain fluid volume?
By keeping adequate volume in the circulatory system
9How does blood prevent blood loss?
Plasma proteins and platelets initiate clot formation
10How does blood prevent infection?
Carries antibodies, complement proteins, and white blood cells
11What type of tissue is blood?
Connective tissue
12What is the matrix of blood called?
Plasma
13What are the formed elements of blood?
Erythrocytes (RBCs), leukocytes (WBCs), platelets
14What percentage of blood is plasma?
Approximately 55%
15What percentage of blood is erythrocytes?
Approximately 45%
16What is the Buffy coat?
Thin layer of WBCs and platelets (<1%) between plasma and RBCs
17What is the normal pH of blood?
7.35–7.45
18What is the average blood volume in males?
5–6 liters
19What is the average blood volume in females?
4–5 liters
20How does blood color vary with oxygen content?
Bright red with high O₂, dark red with low O₂
21What is plasma composed of?
About 90% water, nutrients, gases, hormones, wastes, proteins, and ions
22What is the main plasma protein?
Albumin, which makes up 60% of plasma proteins
23What are the functions of albumin?
Carrier of molecules, blood buffer, contributes to osmotic pressure
24Which formed elements are complete cells?
White blood cells (WBCs)
25Do RBCs have nuclei or organelles?
No, they are anucleate
26What are platelets?
Cell fragments involved in clotting
27Where are blood cells produced?
Red bone marrow
28What is the shape of erythrocytes?
Biconcave discs
29What protein gives RBCs flexibility?
Spectrin
30How does RBC structure aid gas transport?
Large surface area, hemoglobin-rich, no mitochondria
31What is hemoglobin composed of?
Four polypeptide chains (2 alpha, 2 beta) and four heme groups
32How many oxygen molecules can one hemoglobin bind?
Four
33What is the lifespan of RBCs?
100–120 days
34Where does RBC breakdown occur?
Spleen, where macrophages engulf old RBCs
35What are the breakdown products of RBCs?
Iron (stored), heme (bilirubin → urobilinogen → stercobilin), globin (amino acids)
36What is hematopoiesis?
Formation of all blood cells in red bone marrow
37What hormone stimulates RBC formation?
Erythropoietin (EPO)
38Where is EPO produced?
Kidneys, with some from liver
39What is anemia?
Low oxygen-carrying capacity of blood
40What are the main types of anemia?
Blood loss, low RBC production, excessive RBC destruction
41What causes iron-deficiency anemia?
Low iron intake, impaired absorption, or hemorrhagic anemia
42What is pernicious anemia?
B12 malabsorption causing low RBC production
43What is renal anemia?
Low EPO due to kidney disease
44What is aplastic anemia?
Destruction or inhibition of red bone marrow
45What are hemolytic anemias?
Premature lysis of RBCs
46What is thalassemia?
Abnormal, fragile RBCs destroyed easily
47What is sickle-cell anemia?
Genetic mutation of hemoglobin causing crescent-shaped RBCs
48What is polycythemia?
Excess RBCs, increasing blood viscosity
49What are leukocytes?
Complete blood cells that defend against disease
50What are the two categories of leukocytes?
Granulocytes and agranulocytes
51Which WBCs are granulocytes?
Neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils
52Which WBCs are agranulocytes?
Lymphocytes and monocytes
53What is the mnemonic for WBC abundance?
Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas (Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, Basophils)
54What is leukemia?
Overproduction of abnormal WBCs
55What is leukopenia?
Abnormally low WBC count
56What is infectious mononucleosis?
Viral infection (Epstein-Barr virus) causing high numbers of atypical lymphocytes
57What are platelets?
Fragments of megakaryocytes involved in clotting
58What is hemostasis?
Series of reactions that stop bleeding
59What are the three steps of hemostasis?
Vascular spasm, platelet plug formation, coagulation
60What is a thrombus?
Clot that develops and persists in an unbroken blood vessel
61What is an embolus?
A thrombus that floats freely in the bloodstream
62What is thrombocytopenia?
Deficient number of circulating platelets
63What is hemophilia?
Inherited bleeding disorder due to clotting factor deficiency
64What is disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)?
Widespread clotting followed by severe bleeding due to depletion of clotting factors
65What percentage of Americans are Rh positive?
Approximately 85%
66What is hemolytic disease of the newborn?
Rh– mother with Rh+ fetus; maternal anti-Rh antibodies destroy fetal RBCs in subsequent pregnancies
67How can hemolytic disease of the newborn be prevented?
RhoGAM serum containing anti-Rh antibodies
68What are the four ABO blood types?
A, B, AB, O
69What determines ABO blood type?
Presence or absence of A and B agglutinogens on RBCs
70What is a transfusion reaction?
Clumping and destruction of donor RBCs by recipient antibodies, causing serious complications
71Where do fetal blood cells form?
Yolk sac, liver, spleen; red bone marrow by seventh month
72What is fetal hemoglobin (Hb F)?
Hemoglobin with higher oxygen affinity than adult hemoglobin (Hb A)