Wize University Physiology Textbook > Blood
Introduction
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Introduction to Blood
- Blood takes up about 7% of body mass.
- Hematocrit is the fraction of red blood cells in blood, the remainder is plasma.
- Capillaries are composed of a single layer of endothelial cells.
- The suffix "-volemia" is with respect to total blood volume compared to normal
- Hyper-, hypo- or normovolemia are terms commonly used in medicine and physiology
Blood Plasma Composition
- Water
- Ions
- Na+
- Cl-
- Ca2+, Mg2+
- Others: K+, HCO3- ...
- Proteins
- Albumin
- Fibrinogen
- Globulins (immuno-)
- Other
- Glucose
- Amino Acids
- Lipids
- Dissolved gases
Fibrinogen, albumin and alpha1, alpha2 and beta globulins are produced in the liver. Gamma globulins are produced in lymphoid tissues.
Exam Tip
Gamma globulins will be an important family in exams: they are your antibodies! (well, some of them)
- Serum electrophoresis can be done to analyze proteins in blood.
- Can give information about which proteins are in excess or missing
- How far along the molecules move depends on their charge and molecular weight
- Generally, smaller molecules move further
- Where would you find fibrinogen?
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The following serum electrophoresis is found for a patient (bottom image, top image is normal for reference). What type of condition does this patient likely have? What would it be the meaning of a serum electrophoresis with a lower than normal albumin peak?
The peak that is elevated corresponds to gamma globulins. Antibodies are part of the gamma globulin family, although not the only gamma globulins. This result likely represents a patient producing an increased number of antibodies, such as in the case of a bacterial infection or blood disorder (such as blood cancer) that causes increased production of gamma globulins.
To address the second part of the problem: a reduced albumin peak represents low levels of albumin the blood. This could be caused by liver disease, for instance, since albumin is produced by this organ. Additionally, kidney disease could also cause this as albumin could be lost in the urine (in health, albumin is not found in urine in significant amounts).
Which of the following is true: