Section 2.1 Lecture

Question 2

In this unit, what is blood emphasized as?

Answer 2

A transport medium, not just cells floating in liquid.

Question 3

What are the two major components of blood?

Answer 3

Formed (cellular) elements and plasma.

Question 4

What is the primary function of red blood cells (erythrocytes)?

Answer 4

Transport oxygen (O₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂).

Question 5

What key exam idea is emphasized about red blood cells?

Answer 5

They are involved only in gas transport, not immunity or clotting.

Question 6

What is the primary function of white blood cells (leukocytes)?

Answer 6

Immune defense.

Question 7

What important exam point is emphasized about white blood cells?

Answer 7

There are multiple types, and each has a distinct immune role.

Question 8

What is the primary function of platelets (thrombocytes)?

Answer 8

Clotting and coagulation.

Question 9

What key distinction about platelets is emphasized for exams?

Answer 9

Platelets are cell fragments, not full cells.

Question 10

What is plasma?

Answer 10

The liquid matrix of blood.

Question 11

What substances are found in plasma?

Answer 11

Water, proteins, electrolytes, nutrients, hormones, and waste products.

Question 12

What is the key exam distinction between plasma and serum?

Answer 12

Plasma contains clotting factors; serum does not.

Question 13

How is serum defined?

Answer 13

Plasma minus clotting factors.

Question 14

In ABO blood typing, what determines the antibodies a person produces?

Answer 14

You make antibodies against antigens you do not have.

Question 15

What antigens and antibodies are present in blood type A?

Answer 15

A antigen on RBCs; anti-B antibodies in plasma.

Question 16

What antigens and antibodies are present in blood type B?

Answer 16

B antigen on RBCs; anti-A antibodies in plasma.

Question 17

What antigens and antibodies are present in blood type AB?

Answer 17

A and B antigens on RBCs; no antibodies in plasma.

Question 18

What antigens and antibodies are present in blood type O?

Answer 18

No antigens on RBCs; anti-A and anti-B antibodies in plasma.

Question 19

What does it mean if someone is Rh positive?

Answer 19

They have the D antigen.

Question 20

What does it mean if someone is Rh negative?

Answer 20

They lack the D antigen.

Question 21

How do Rh antibodies differ from ABO antibodies?

Answer 21

Rh antibodies are not pre-formed.

Question 22

What is alloimmunization?

Answer 22

Immune sensitization to non-ABO red blood cell antigens after repeated transfusions.

Question 23

Why can repeated blood transfusions become dangerous over time?

Answer 23

The immune system may react to non-ABO antigens not screened in standard typing.

Question 24

Which diseases are especially associated with repeated transfusions and alloimmunization risk?

Answer 24

Sickle cell disease and thalassemia.

Question 25

Why does standard blood typing not prevent all transfusion reactions?

Answer 25

It screens only ABO and Rh, not the many other RBC antigens.

Question 26

Why is sickle cell disease highlighted as a health equity issue in transfusion medicine?

Answer 26

Patients often require chronic transfusions and have a higher risk of alloimmunization.

Question 27

What is the instructor’s expectation regarding sickle cell disease and transfusions?

Answer 27

Understand the science, recognize real-world consequences, and apply ethical and equitable thinking.

Question 28

What types of blood questions should you expect on the exam?

Answer 28

Antigen–antibody relationships, transfusion compatibility, plasma vs serum, and risks of repeated transfusions.

Question 29

Why is plasma different from serum in a clinical context?

Answer 29

Plasma contains clotting factors, which serum lacks.

Question 30

What is the one-sentence core summary of this section?

Answer 30

Blood consists of formed elements suspended in plasma, and safe transfusion depends on antigen–antibody compatibility, with repeated transfusions risking immune sensitization.