Study Guide: Blood
Functions of Blood
1. List and briefly explain the three primary functions of blood.
2. How does blood regulate body temperature?
3. What are the key roles of blood in protecting the body from infection
and blood loss?
Blood Composition
4. What are the two main components of blood, and what percentage of
blood does each make up?
5. Compare and contrast plasma and formed elements.
6. Which plasma protein is the most abundant, and what is its main
function?
7. Describe the three major plasma proteins and their primary roles.
Formed Elements
8. What are the three types of formed elements in blood?
9. Which of the formed elements are considered “true cells,” and why?
10. What is the function of erythrocytes, and why do they lack a
nucleus and organelles?
11. Describe the basic structure and function of hemoglobin.
12. What happens to old or damaged red blood cells in the body?
Hematopoiesis & Erythropoiesis
13. What is hematopoiesis, and where does it occur in adults?
14. What hormone regulates erythropoiesis, and where is it
produced?
15. Describe the process of erythropoiesis from a hematopoietic
stem cell to a mature red blood cell.
16. How does hypoxia stimulate erythropoiesis?
Nutritional & Hormonal Regulation of RBC Production
17. Which vitamins and minerals are essential for RBC production,
and why?
18. Why is free iron toxic in the body, and how is it stored safely?
19. How does the body ensure a constant supply of new RBCs?
Erythrocyte Disorders
20. Define anemia and explain how it affects oxygen transport.
21. Match the following types of anemia with their causes:
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Pernicious anemia
• Hemorrhagic anemia
• Aplastic anemia
• Sickle-cell anemia
22. How does sickle-cell anemia affect red blood cells and overall
oxygen delivery?
23. What are the causes and consequences of polycythemia?
24. Explain how high altitude or blood doping can lead to secondary
polycythemia.
Leukocytes and their functions
25. What differentiates granulocytes from agranulocytes, and which
specific types belong to each category?
26. How do neutrophils combat bacterial infections, and what
specialized mechanisms do they use to kill pathogens?
27. What is the primary function of eosinophils?
28. What chemical class do basophils release, and how does it
impact the body?
29. In which part of blood are monocytes found, and what happens
when they differentiate?
30. What role do lymphocytes have in the immune system? Compare
the functions of B cells and T cells in immune defense.
Leukocyte disorders
31. What is leukocytosis and why might it occur?
32. Define leukopenia. What causes it and how does it impact the
immune system?
33. Describe the different types of leukemia.
34. What causes infectious mononucleosis and what are the typical
symptoms?
Platelets and Clotting mechanisms
35. What are platelets and how are they formed?
36. Outline the three main steps of hemostasis.
37. What is the function of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF)?
38. Describe the role of plasmin in clot breakdown. What triggers its
activation, and why is fibrinolysis important?
Blood clotting disorders
39. What is thrombocytopenia and how does it affect the body?
40. Differentiate between hemophilia and liver disease as causes of
bleeding disorders.
41. What is the difference between a thrombus and an embolus?
How can these conditions lead to serious complications?
42. Explain how anticoagulant drugs like heparin and warfarin work.
In other words, what mechanisms do they use to prevent clot
formation?
Blood typing and transfusion reactions
43. Why does mismatched blood transfusion cause serious
reactions? What happens when antibodies in the recipient’s plasma
bind it to donor RBCs?
44. What is hemolytic disease of the newborn? How can it be
prevented?
45. Describe the key tests performed in a Complete Blood Count. In
other words, what does this test measure, and why is it important for
diagnosing blood disorders?
46. How does the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel differ from the
Complete Blood Count?
