BHSC 1200 CARDIO STUDY GUIDE
functions of blood - Answers :1) transportation: transports oxygen from lungs to cells of
body; transports carbon dioxide from cells to lungs; carries hormones and nutrients
throughout the body
2) regulation: circulating blood helps maintain homeostasis of all body fluids; regulates
pH through use of buffers; adjusts body temperature through heat-absorbing and
coolant properties of water
3) protection: clots prevent excessive loss from the cardiovascular system after an injury
describe the components of blood - Answers :1) blood plasma: watery liquid
extracellular matrix that contains dissolved substances; ~55%
2) formed elements: cells and cell fragments; ~45%
functions of plasma proteins - Answers :albumins: help maintain osmotic pressure
globulins: immunoglobulins help attack viruses and bacteria; alpha and beta globulins
transport iron, lipids globulins transport iron, lipids and fat-soluble vitamins
fibrinogens: blood clotting
define hematopoiesis - Answers :-blood cell production
-occurs in red bone marrow after birth
explain where hematopoiesis occurs in the fetus, child, adolescent, and adults -
Answers :fetus: first occurs in yolk sac; liver, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes; red
bone marrow in last 3 months before birth
child: medullary cavity of bones
adolescent: only in proximal quarter of femoral and humeral shafts
adults: proximal ends of long bones
structure of erythrocytes and how structure relates to function - Answers :-biconcave
discs
-strong and flexible plasma membrane, allowing the cell to deform without rupturing as
they squeeze through narrow capillaries
-no nucleus to allow them to carry more oxygen
structure and function of hemoglobin - Answers :-consists of a protein called globin
(composed of 4 polypeptide chains) and a nonprotein pigment called heme which is
bound to each of the chains
,-at the center of each heme ring is an iron ion that binds to oxygen
-transports oxygen and carbon dioxide; regulates blood flow
describe the function of erythropoietin and it's stimulus for release - Answers :-increases
number of red blood cell precursors
-produced primarily by cells in the kidneys that lie between the kidney tubules
-with renal failure, EPO release slows and RBC production is inadequate, leading to
decreased hematocrit and decreased ability to deliver oxygen to body tissues
define hematocrit and provide examples of conditions that increase and decrease it -
Answers :-percentage of total blood volume occupied by RBCs
-normal range is 38-46 for females; 40-54 for males
-increase: aka polycythemia; raises blood viscosity making it difficult to flow, high blood
pressure, increased risk of stroke; caused by tissue hypoxia, blood doping, use of EPO
by athletes, and abnormal increases in RBC production
-decrease: menstruation in women; anemia
define reticulocyte count and provide examples of conditions that increase and
decrease it - Answers :-measures the rate of erythropoiesis
-increase: indicates good red bone marrow response to previous blood loss or to iron
therapy; could point to illegal use of epoetin alfa by an athlete
-decrease: indicates a shortage of erythropoietin or an inability of the red bone marrow
to respond to EPO in anemia (nutritional deficiency or leukaemia)
describe what happens to RBCs when they are damaged or die, including the fate of
hemoglobin breakdown - Answers :1) macrophages in the spleen, liver, or red bone
marrow phagocytize ruptured or worn-out RBCs
2) the heme and globin parts of Hgb are split apart
3) globin is broken down into amino acids which can be reused to synthesize other
proteins
4) iron is removed from the heme portion in the form of Fe3+, associated with the
plasma protein transferrin, which transports Fe3+ in the bloodstream
5) in muscle fibres, liver cells, and macrophages of the spleen and liver, Fe3+ detaches
from transferrin and attaches to an iron-storage protein called ferritin
6) on release from storage site or absorption from the GI tract, Fe3+ reattaches to
transferrin
7) the Fe3+-transferrin complex is carried to red bone marrow, where RBC precursor
cells take it up through receptor-mediated endocytosis for use in hemoglobin synthesis.
iron is needed for heme portion of Hgb molecule and amino acids are needed for globin
portion. vitamin B12 is also needed for synthesis of Hgb
, 8) erythropoiesis in red bone marrow results in the production of red blood cells which
enter circulation
9) when iron is removed from heme, the non-iron portion of heme is converted to
biliverdin, a green pigment, and then into bilirubin, a yellow-orange pigment
10) bilirubin enters the blood and is transported to the liver
11) within the liver, bilirubin is released by liver cells into bile, which passes into the
small intestine and then into the large intestine
12) in the large intestine, bacteria convert bilirubin into urobilinogen
13) some urobilinogen is absorbed back into the blood, converted into a yellow pigment
called urobilin, and excreted in urine
14) most urobilinogen is eliminated in feces in the form of a brown pigment called
stercobilin, which gives feces its characteristic colour
structure and function of neutrophils - Answers :-60-70% of all WBCs
-nucleus has 2-5 lobes connected by thin strands of chromatin
-cytoplasm has very fine, pale lilac granules
-function: phagocytosis = destruction of bacteria with lysozyme, defensins, and strong
oxidants
structure and function of eosinophils - Answers :-2-4% of all WBCs
-nucleus usually has 2 lobes connected by thick strand of chromatin
-large, red-orange granules fill cytoplasm
-function: combat effects of histamine in allergic reactions; phagocytize antigen-antibody
complexes; destroy certain parasitic worms
structure and function of basophils - Answers :-0.5-1% of all WBCs
-nucleus has two lobes
-large cytoplasmic granules appear deep blue-purple
-function: liberate heparin, histamine, and serotonin in allergic reactions that intensify
overall inflammatory response
structure and function of monocytes - Answers :-3-8% of all WBCs
-nucleus is kidney- or horseshoe-shaped
-cytoplasm is blue-grey and appears foamy
-function: phagocytosis (after transforming into fixed or wandering macrophages)
structure and function of lymphocytes (B cells, T cells, natural killer cells) - Answers :-
20-25% of all WBCs
-nucleus is round or slightly indented
functions of blood - Answers :1) transportation: transports oxygen from lungs to cells of
body; transports carbon dioxide from cells to lungs; carries hormones and nutrients
throughout the body
2) regulation: circulating blood helps maintain homeostasis of all body fluids; regulates
pH through use of buffers; adjusts body temperature through heat-absorbing and
coolant properties of water
3) protection: clots prevent excessive loss from the cardiovascular system after an injury
describe the components of blood - Answers :1) blood plasma: watery liquid
extracellular matrix that contains dissolved substances; ~55%
2) formed elements: cells and cell fragments; ~45%
functions of plasma proteins - Answers :albumins: help maintain osmotic pressure
globulins: immunoglobulins help attack viruses and bacteria; alpha and beta globulins
transport iron, lipids globulins transport iron, lipids and fat-soluble vitamins
fibrinogens: blood clotting
define hematopoiesis - Answers :-blood cell production
-occurs in red bone marrow after birth
explain where hematopoiesis occurs in the fetus, child, adolescent, and adults -
Answers :fetus: first occurs in yolk sac; liver, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes; red
bone marrow in last 3 months before birth
child: medullary cavity of bones
adolescent: only in proximal quarter of femoral and humeral shafts
adults: proximal ends of long bones
structure of erythrocytes and how structure relates to function - Answers :-biconcave
discs
-strong and flexible plasma membrane, allowing the cell to deform without rupturing as
they squeeze through narrow capillaries
-no nucleus to allow them to carry more oxygen
structure and function of hemoglobin - Answers :-consists of a protein called globin
(composed of 4 polypeptide chains) and a nonprotein pigment called heme which is
bound to each of the chains
,-at the center of each heme ring is an iron ion that binds to oxygen
-transports oxygen and carbon dioxide; regulates blood flow
describe the function of erythropoietin and it's stimulus for release - Answers :-increases
number of red blood cell precursors
-produced primarily by cells in the kidneys that lie between the kidney tubules
-with renal failure, EPO release slows and RBC production is inadequate, leading to
decreased hematocrit and decreased ability to deliver oxygen to body tissues
define hematocrit and provide examples of conditions that increase and decrease it -
Answers :-percentage of total blood volume occupied by RBCs
-normal range is 38-46 for females; 40-54 for males
-increase: aka polycythemia; raises blood viscosity making it difficult to flow, high blood
pressure, increased risk of stroke; caused by tissue hypoxia, blood doping, use of EPO
by athletes, and abnormal increases in RBC production
-decrease: menstruation in women; anemia
define reticulocyte count and provide examples of conditions that increase and
decrease it - Answers :-measures the rate of erythropoiesis
-increase: indicates good red bone marrow response to previous blood loss or to iron
therapy; could point to illegal use of epoetin alfa by an athlete
-decrease: indicates a shortage of erythropoietin or an inability of the red bone marrow
to respond to EPO in anemia (nutritional deficiency or leukaemia)
describe what happens to RBCs when they are damaged or die, including the fate of
hemoglobin breakdown - Answers :1) macrophages in the spleen, liver, or red bone
marrow phagocytize ruptured or worn-out RBCs
2) the heme and globin parts of Hgb are split apart
3) globin is broken down into amino acids which can be reused to synthesize other
proteins
4) iron is removed from the heme portion in the form of Fe3+, associated with the
plasma protein transferrin, which transports Fe3+ in the bloodstream
5) in muscle fibres, liver cells, and macrophages of the spleen and liver, Fe3+ detaches
from transferrin and attaches to an iron-storage protein called ferritin
6) on release from storage site or absorption from the GI tract, Fe3+ reattaches to
transferrin
7) the Fe3+-transferrin complex is carried to red bone marrow, where RBC precursor
cells take it up through receptor-mediated endocytosis for use in hemoglobin synthesis.
iron is needed for heme portion of Hgb molecule and amino acids are needed for globin
portion. vitamin B12 is also needed for synthesis of Hgb
, 8) erythropoiesis in red bone marrow results in the production of red blood cells which
enter circulation
9) when iron is removed from heme, the non-iron portion of heme is converted to
biliverdin, a green pigment, and then into bilirubin, a yellow-orange pigment
10) bilirubin enters the blood and is transported to the liver
11) within the liver, bilirubin is released by liver cells into bile, which passes into the
small intestine and then into the large intestine
12) in the large intestine, bacteria convert bilirubin into urobilinogen
13) some urobilinogen is absorbed back into the blood, converted into a yellow pigment
called urobilin, and excreted in urine
14) most urobilinogen is eliminated in feces in the form of a brown pigment called
stercobilin, which gives feces its characteristic colour
structure and function of neutrophils - Answers :-60-70% of all WBCs
-nucleus has 2-5 lobes connected by thin strands of chromatin
-cytoplasm has very fine, pale lilac granules
-function: phagocytosis = destruction of bacteria with lysozyme, defensins, and strong
oxidants
structure and function of eosinophils - Answers :-2-4% of all WBCs
-nucleus usually has 2 lobes connected by thick strand of chromatin
-large, red-orange granules fill cytoplasm
-function: combat effects of histamine in allergic reactions; phagocytize antigen-antibody
complexes; destroy certain parasitic worms
structure and function of basophils - Answers :-0.5-1% of all WBCs
-nucleus has two lobes
-large cytoplasmic granules appear deep blue-purple
-function: liberate heparin, histamine, and serotonin in allergic reactions that intensify
overall inflammatory response
structure and function of monocytes - Answers :-3-8% of all WBCs
-nucleus is kidney- or horseshoe-shaped
-cytoplasm is blue-grey and appears foamy
-function: phagocytosis (after transforming into fixed or wandering macrophages)
structure and function of lymphocytes (B cells, T cells, natural killer cells) - Answers :-
20-25% of all WBCs
-nucleus is round or slightly indented
