NUR968 RBC Physiology & Pathophysiology Test
With Solution
__: is the aqueous (water) medium or fluid part of the blood - ANSWER
Plasma
What substances are dissolved in plasma? (10) - ANSWER 1. Electrolytes
2. Proteins
3. Lipids
4. Carbohydrates
5. Amino acids
6. Vitamins
7. Hormones
8. Urea
9. Uric acid
10. Oxygen, carbon dioxide & nitrogen
True or false: Red blood cells, white blood cells & platelets are all suspended
in plasma - ANSWER True
In the plasma, what helps maintain osmolarity? - ANSWER The ions
What is the chief CATION in the plasma? - ANSWER Sodium (Na+)
What is the chief ANION in the plasma? - ANSWER Chloride (Cl-)
Many different proteins are dissolved in the plasma. The most abundant is
,what? - ANSWER Albumin
What does albumin do? - ANSWER Provides the critical osmotic or oncotic
pressure that regulates the movement of water in & out of the vascular space
-Think back to Starling's forces
What does the loss of plasma proteins into the extravascular space result in?
(4) - ANSWER 1. Ascites
2. Edema in closed cavities
3. Pleural effusions (lungs)
4. Pericardial effusions (heart)
What is the second largest group of plasma proteins? - ANSWER
Immunoglobulins
True or false: Other plasma proteins include the clotting factors, components
of the compliment cascade (part of the immune system), enzymes, enzyme
inhibitors & many others - ANSWER True
The RBC is a "bag" containing fluid & hemoglobin. The RBC takes on a
BICONCAVE shape with an average diameter of __ micrometers - ANSWER 7
micrometers
-RBC's can change shape & squeeze through capillaries (smaller than 7
micrometers)
What is the lifespan of a RBC? - ANSWER 120 days
Do RBCs contain a nucleus or mithochondria? - ANSWER No!
RBCs contain no nucleus or mitochondria yet they contain enzymes that are
,able to produce enough ATP to: (4) - ANSWER 1. Maintain ion composition
2. Maintain the cell membrane
3. Keep iron in the cell in the ferrous form (Fe+2) form which binds oxygen as
opposed to the ferric (Fe+3) form which does not bind oxygen
4. Prevent oxidation of the proteins in the RBC
What happens to the metabolic systems of the RBC as they age? - ANSWER
The metabolic systems of the RBC become progressively LESS ACTIVE as they
age thus, the cells become more fragile with age
Many RBCs self-destruct in the __ - ANSWER Spleen
True or false: Remember that the spleen has capillaries the size of 3
micrometers, thus the RBC must fold like a taco to squeeze through. This is
not a problem if the cell is healthy, but becomes a problem when the
membrane is fragile - ANSWER True
So how big are the capillaries of the spleen? - ANSWER 3 micrometers
-RBCs are 7 micrometers
-They must fold up & squeeze through
, -Not a problem unless the RBC membrane is fragile
What happens when the spleen is removed? - ANSWER When the spleen is
removed, the number of abnormally old RBC's greatly increase
-As an old RBC becomes frail, it will fall tear apart
RBC's first appear in the early weeks of embryonic life. Early cells are
produced in the __ __ - ANSWER Yolk sac
During the middle trimester, what predominately produces RBCs? - ANSWER
The LIVER is the main organ for production of RBC's followed by the SPLEEN
& lymph nodes
During the last trimester, & after birth, where are RBCs predominately
produced? - ANSWER Predominantly in the BONE MARROW
The bone marrow of ALL bones produces RBC's up to the age of __ years -
ANSWER 5 years
By the age of 20 years, most of the RBC's are produced by the membranous
bones such as the: (4) - ANSWER 1. Vertebrae
With Solution
__: is the aqueous (water) medium or fluid part of the blood - ANSWER
Plasma
What substances are dissolved in plasma? (10) - ANSWER 1. Electrolytes
2. Proteins
3. Lipids
4. Carbohydrates
5. Amino acids
6. Vitamins
7. Hormones
8. Urea
9. Uric acid
10. Oxygen, carbon dioxide & nitrogen
True or false: Red blood cells, white blood cells & platelets are all suspended
in plasma - ANSWER True
In the plasma, what helps maintain osmolarity? - ANSWER The ions
What is the chief CATION in the plasma? - ANSWER Sodium (Na+)
What is the chief ANION in the plasma? - ANSWER Chloride (Cl-)
Many different proteins are dissolved in the plasma. The most abundant is
,what? - ANSWER Albumin
What does albumin do? - ANSWER Provides the critical osmotic or oncotic
pressure that regulates the movement of water in & out of the vascular space
-Think back to Starling's forces
What does the loss of plasma proteins into the extravascular space result in?
(4) - ANSWER 1. Ascites
2. Edema in closed cavities
3. Pleural effusions (lungs)
4. Pericardial effusions (heart)
What is the second largest group of plasma proteins? - ANSWER
Immunoglobulins
True or false: Other plasma proteins include the clotting factors, components
of the compliment cascade (part of the immune system), enzymes, enzyme
inhibitors & many others - ANSWER True
The RBC is a "bag" containing fluid & hemoglobin. The RBC takes on a
BICONCAVE shape with an average diameter of __ micrometers - ANSWER 7
micrometers
-RBC's can change shape & squeeze through capillaries (smaller than 7
micrometers)
What is the lifespan of a RBC? - ANSWER 120 days
Do RBCs contain a nucleus or mithochondria? - ANSWER No!
RBCs contain no nucleus or mitochondria yet they contain enzymes that are
,able to produce enough ATP to: (4) - ANSWER 1. Maintain ion composition
2. Maintain the cell membrane
3. Keep iron in the cell in the ferrous form (Fe+2) form which binds oxygen as
opposed to the ferric (Fe+3) form which does not bind oxygen
4. Prevent oxidation of the proteins in the RBC
What happens to the metabolic systems of the RBC as they age? - ANSWER
The metabolic systems of the RBC become progressively LESS ACTIVE as they
age thus, the cells become more fragile with age
Many RBCs self-destruct in the __ - ANSWER Spleen
True or false: Remember that the spleen has capillaries the size of 3
micrometers, thus the RBC must fold like a taco to squeeze through. This is
not a problem if the cell is healthy, but becomes a problem when the
membrane is fragile - ANSWER True
So how big are the capillaries of the spleen? - ANSWER 3 micrometers
-RBCs are 7 micrometers
-They must fold up & squeeze through
, -Not a problem unless the RBC membrane is fragile
What happens when the spleen is removed? - ANSWER When the spleen is
removed, the number of abnormally old RBC's greatly increase
-As an old RBC becomes frail, it will fall tear apart
RBC's first appear in the early weeks of embryonic life. Early cells are
produced in the __ __ - ANSWER Yolk sac
During the middle trimester, what predominately produces RBCs? - ANSWER
The LIVER is the main organ for production of RBC's followed by the SPLEEN
& lymph nodes
During the last trimester, & after birth, where are RBCs predominately
produced? - ANSWER Predominantly in the BONE MARROW
The bone marrow of ALL bones produces RBC's up to the age of __ years -
ANSWER 5 years
By the age of 20 years, most of the RBC's are produced by the membranous
bones such as the: (4) - ANSWER 1. Vertebrae
