Skip to main content
Back

Anatomy & Physiology: Blood, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Urinary, and Fluid Balance

Control buttons has been changed to "navigation" mode.
1/29

Terms in this set (29)

  • Major components of blood

    Plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

  • Function of hemoglobin

    Transports oxygen from lungs to tissues and carries some carbon dioxide back to lungs.

  • Metabolic pathway erythrocytes use to produce ATP

    Glycolysis (anaerobic metabolism) since erythrocytes lack mitochondria.

  • Where are red blood cells produced?

    In the red bone marrow through a process called erythropoiesis.

  • Control of red blood cell production

    Regulated by erythropoietin, a hormone released mainly by the kidneys in response to low oxygen levels.

  • Why is iron required for red blood cell formation?

    Iron is essential for hemoglobin synthesis, enabling oxygen binding.

  • Vitamins necessary for red blood cell production

    Vitamin B12 and folic acid are required for DNA synthesis in RBC production.

  • Definition of anemia

    A condition characterized by a decrease in red blood cells or hemoglobin, reducing oxygen delivery.

  • Fate of damaged red blood cells

    They are broken down mainly in the spleen and liver, recycling components.

  • Products of hemoglobin breakdown

    Heme is converted to bilirubin, and iron is recycled; globin is broken down into amino acids.

  • Difference between granulocytes and agranulocytes

    Granulocytes have visible granules (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils); agranulocytes do not (lymphocytes, monocytes).

  • Most active phagocytic white blood cells

    Neutrophils and monocytes are the primary phagocytes.

  • Functions of blood platelets

    Involved in blood clotting, forming platelet plugs, and releasing chemicals for hemostasis.

  • Three types of plasma proteins and their functions

    Albumins maintain osmotic pressure, globulins function in immunity, and fibrinogens are essential for clotting.

  • Role of albumins in water balance

    Albumins maintain colloid osmotic pressure, preventing excessive water loss from blood to tissues.

  • Role of fibrinogens

    Converted to fibrin during clotting to form a stable blood clot.

  • Definition of hemostasis

    The process that stops bleeding, involving vascular spasm, platelet plug formation, and coagulation.

  • Difference between extrinsic and intrinsic clotting mechanisms

    Extrinsic is triggered by external tissue damage; intrinsic is activated by blood contact with damaged endothelium.

  • Last two steps of the clotting cascade

    Conversion of prothrombin to thrombin, then fibrinogen to fibrin to form the clot.

  • Function of antithrombin

    Inhibits thrombin and other clotting factors to prevent excessive clot formation.

  • Difference between antigens and antibodies

    Antigens are molecules on cell surfaces that trigger immune response; antibodies are proteins that bind to antigens.

  • Why is AB blood the universal recipient?

    AB blood has no anti-A or anti-B antibodies, so it can receive any ABO blood type safely.

  • Why is type O blood the universal donor?

    Type O blood has no A or B antigens, so it can be given to any ABO blood type.

  • Distinguish between pulmonary and systemic circuits

    Pulmonary circuit carries blood between heart and lungs; systemic circuit carries blood between heart and body tissues.

  • Function of the pericardial fluid

    Reduces friction between the visceral and parietal pericardium during heartbeats.

  • Function of atrioventricular valves

    Prevent backflow of blood from ventricles to atria during ventricular contraction.

  • Path of blood through the heart

    Right atrium → right ventricle → lungs → left atrium → left ventricle → body.

  • Function of the cardiac conduction system

    Generates and conducts electrical impulses to coordinate heart contractions.

  • What causes heart sounds?

    Closing of heart valves produces the characteristic lub-dub sounds.