Body Fluids and Circulation - Composition of blood, blood groups, coagulation of blood
Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.
🔑Concepts
Blood is a fluid connective tissue consisting of () and formed elements ().
Plasma contains water and proteins such as (clotting), (defense mechanisms), and (osmotic balance).
Erythrocytes (RBCs) contain , a complex protein with ions. A healthy adult has g of hemoglobin per mL of blood.
Leucocytes (WBCs) are divided into Granulocytes (, , ) and Agranulocytes (, ).
The ABO blood grouping is based on the presence or absence of two surface antigens on RBCs, namely and .
The antigen is present in nearly of humans (). incompatibility between an mother and fetus can cause .
Coagulation is a cascade process involving the conversion of soluble to insoluble threads by the enzyme .
📐Formulae
💡Examples
Problem 1:
Calculate the amount of Hemoglobin in a patient if they have Litres of blood and their concentration is g per mL.
Solution:
Total Hemoglobin = g.
Explanation:
To find the total mass, the concentration (g/100mL) is multiplied by the total volume of blood in the same units (mL).
Problem 2:
An individual has blood group . Identify the antigens on their RBCs and the antibodies in their plasma.
Solution:
Antigens: and ; Antibodies: None.
Explanation:
In blood group, both surface antigens and are present, which is why the plasma contains no antibodies against them ( or ), making them universal recipients.
Problem 3:
What is the role of in a blood injury site?
Solution:
ions act as a cofactor for the activation of and the subsequent conversion of to .
Explanation:
Calcium ions () are essential for multiple steps in the blood coagulation cascade; without them, the clot cannot form efficiently.