Body Fluids AND Circulation flash cards

1. 1.What are the two main body fluids that help in transport of substances in humans?

   Blood and lymph (tissue fluid). Blood is the main circulating body fluid; lymph is a mobile connective tissue derived from tissue fluid.

   Hint: One is red, one is colourless

2. 2.Blood is a special type of connective tissue consisting of which two components?

   A fluid matrix called plasma and formed elements (blood cells). Plasma makes up ~55% of blood, formed elements ~45%.

   Hint: Matrix + cells

3. 3.What percentage of plasma is water, and what percentage is proteins?

   Plasma is about 90-92% water and 6-8% proteins.

   Hint: Mostly water; small protein fraction

4. 4.Name the three major plasma proteins and one function of each.

   Fibrinogen (blood clotting), globulins (defence/immunity, antibodies), and albumins (osmotic balance / maintaining blood osmotic pressure).

   Hint: Fib, Glob, Alb

5. 5.Which plasma protein is most abundant and maintains blood osmotic (colloidal) pressure?

   Albumin. It is the most abundant plasma protein and maintains the osmotic balance of blood.

   Hint: Starts with A, keeps water in vessels

6. 6.What is serum?

   Serum is plasma without the clotting factors (fibrinogen). Serum = Plasma - clotting proteins.

   Hint: Plasma minus fibrinogen

7. 7.QUESTION: If you remove fibrinogen from plasma, what remains and what is it called?

   The remaining straw-coloured fluid is called serum. Serum = plasma without fibrinogen and other clotting factors.

   Hint: Take out the clotting protein

8. 8.Name the mineral ions present in plasma.

   $Na^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $HCO_3^-$, $Cl^-$ etc. are important plasma ions.

   Hint: Sodium, calcium, bicarbonate...

9. 9.What are the three types of formed elements in blood?

   Erythrocytes (RBCs), leucocytes (WBCs), and thrombocytes (platelets).

   Hint: Red, white, and clotting cells

10. 10.Formed elements constitute what percentage of the blood?

    Formed elements constitute nearly 45% of the blood.

    Hint: Complement of 55

11. 11.What is the normal RBC count in a healthy adult human?

    5 to 5.5 million RBCs per cubic mm ($mm^3$) of blood (about 5-5.5 million/microlitre).

    Hint: About 5 million per mm³

12. 12.What is the characteristic shape of a mammalian RBC and why is it significant?

    Biconcave disc shape. It increases surface area for gas exchange and gives flexibility to pass through capillaries.

    Hint: Concave on both sides

13. 13.Why do mature mammalian RBCs lack a nucleus and most organelles?

    To create more space for haemoglobin, maximising oxygen-carrying capacity. Mammalian RBCs are enucleate (no nucleus, mitochondria, etc.).

    Hint: More room for Hb

14. 14.What is the normal haemoglobin content in a healthy adult human?

    12 to 16 g (grams) of haemoglobin per 100 mL (per decilitre) of blood.

    Hint: 12-16 g per 100 mL

15. 15.What is the primary function of haemoglobin?

    Transport of respiratory gases — mainly oxygen (as oxyhaemoglobin) and some carbon dioxide (as carbaminohaemoglobin).

    Hint: Carries O₂

16. 16.Where are RBCs formed in adults and where are they destroyed?

    Formed in the red bone marrow (erythropoiesis); destroyed in the spleen (the 'graveyard of RBCs').

    Hint: Made in marrow, killed in spleen

17. 17.What is the average lifespan of a red blood cell?

    About 120 days. After that they are destroyed in the spleen.

    Hint: Roughly 4 months

18. 18.What is the normal WBC (leucocyte) count in a healthy adult?

    6000 to 8000 WBCs per cubic mm ($mm^3$) of blood.

    Hint: Thousands, not millions

19. 19.How are leucocytes classified into two main types?

    Granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils — cytoplasmic granules present) and agranulocytes (lymphocytes and monocytes — no granules).

    Hint: Granules present or absent

20. 20.Which is the most abundant type of WBC and what is its function?

    Neutrophils (~60-65% of WBCs). They are phagocytic — they destroy foreign organisms entering the body.

    Hint: Most numerous granulocyte, phagocytic

21. 21.Which is the least abundant (rarest) type of WBC?

    Basophils (0.5-1% of WBCs). They secrete histamine, serotonin, heparin, and are involved in inflammatory reactions.

    Hint: Rare granulocyte, releases histamine

22. 22.QUESTION: Which WBC secretes heparin, histamine and serotonin?

    Basophils. They secrete these chemicals and are involved in inflammatory responses (similar in function to mast cells).

    Hint: The rarest WBC

23. 23.What is the function of eosinophils?

    Eosinophils resist infections and are associated with allergic reactions (they combat parasites and modulate allergy/inflammation).

    Hint: Allergy and parasites, ~2-3%

24. 24.Which WBCs are agranulocytes and what are their percentages?

    Lymphocytes (20-25%) and monocytes (6-8%). Both lack cytoplasmic granules.

    Hint: Two types without granules

25. 25.What is the role of lymphocytes (B and T)?

    Lymphocytes are responsible for immune responses of the body. B-lymphocytes produce antibodies; T-lymphocytes are involved in cell-mediated immunity.

    Hint: Immunity, two types B and T

26. 26.What is the function of monocytes?

    Monocytes are phagocytic — they engulf pathogens and cell debris. They are the largest WBCs.

    Hint: Largest WBC, phagocytic

27. 27.What are thrombocytes (platelets) and where are they produced?

    Platelets are cell fragments produced from megakaryocytes (special cells) in the bone marrow. They release factors involved in blood coagulation (clotting).

    Hint: Cell fragments from megakaryocytes

28. 28.What is the normal platelet count in blood?

    1,500,000 to 3,500,000 platelets per cubic mm ($mm^3$) (i.e., 1.5 to 3.5 lakh/µL).

    Hint: About 1.5-3.5 lakh per mm³

29. 29.What happens if the platelet count is reduced greatly?

    A reduction in platelet number (thrombocytopenia) can lead to clotting disorders and excessive bleeding/haemorrhage from the body.

    Hint: Poor clotting, bleeding

30. 30.Who discovered the ABO blood grouping and Rh factor?

    The ABO blood grouping (and later Rh factor with Wiener) was discovered by Karl Landsteiner.

    Hint: Landsteiner

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