Quiz 3

Erythrocytes:

Are composed mainly of intracellular gas transport proteins

Neutrophil

Bacteria slayer

Based on question 11, which leukocyte are you least likely to encounter in a blood smear of a healthy individual?

Basophils

Eosinophil

Combats parasitic worms

Lymphocyte

Create antibodies & attack infected or cancerous cells

A baby is born with blood plasma proteins that attack A antigens (born with anti-A antibodies). What blood type must this baby be?

Either Type B or Type O - The role of plasma antibodies is to attack specific cells bearing certain antigens. Pathogens display antigens that are different from your normal cell antigens. If your antibodies see an antigen that is not from your body, they attack it and destroy the cell bearing those foreign antigens. In addition to your DNA determining the type of antigens on your RBCs, your DNA also determines if you have certain antibodies in your blood plasma. Whatever antigens your RBCs display (for A & B), your body will automatically make antibodies against whatever your RBCs don't display. For example: if all your RBCs have only the A antigen (type A or AB blood), you will never form antibodies against A. If your RBCs never display B antigens (type A or O blood), you will form antibodies against B so that if your immune system ever sees a B antigen, it will attack and destroy. In this question I tell you that a baby has blood plasma antibodies against A antigens - therefore, that baby must never naturally produce A antigens on its RBCs or else it would attack its own blood all the time. So this baby must either be type B or type O.

Donated plasma is often separated into its many useful components. What plasma component would be useful in immunodeficient individuals without antibodies?

Globulins

During the life (or death) of erythrocytes:

Immature RBC's contain nuclei and ribosomes

Basophil

Inflammatory response, typically to allergies

Monocyte

Largest WBC, include phagocytic macrophages

Which of the following is most likely in individuals with kidney failure?

Low hematocrit - The hormone that regulates red blood cell production (erythropoietin, EPO) is produced by the kidney. When the kidney detects low blood oxygen, it releases EPO stimulating red blood cell formation (erythropoiesis). In renal (kidney) failure, the kidney cells do not work properly and thus the level of blood oxygen cannot be detected and EPO cannot be produced. Consequently, these individuals frequently have low red blood cell count (low hematocrit). White blood cell production is regulated by hormones from other white blood cells. Platelet production is regulated by a hormone from the liver. Most clotting factors are produced by the liver and the kidney is not important in their production.

What determines your blood type?

The proteins on your red blood cell membranes as dictated by your DNA. - All cells in your body have antigens (name tags) on their cell membranes that identify them as belonging to your body. Your DNA dictates their formation and expression on the cell membrane surface. Red blood cells are no different in this respect. While there can be many types of antigens that body cells may express, red blood cells regularly express those that fall into about 23 different groups. The most common groups are the ABO group and the Rh group. If all of your RBCs display A antigens and Rh antigens, you are type A+ blood. If they display A, B and Rh antigens, you are type AB+ blood. If your RBCs display neither A nor B and also not Rh, you are O- blood type.