Blood, haemostasis and blood groups
What blood contains and what a blood count says, how bleeding stops (primary haemostasis, coagulation, fibrinolysis), the ABO and Rhesus groups and the compatibility rules of transfusion.
- 40 cards
- 4 topics
- Free
The outline, topic by topic
Each topic is weighted the way the exam weighs it.
- Concepts
- The steps
- Scenarios
- Understand
A few cards from the deck
Plasma: what is it?
Show the answer
The liquid part of blood, about 55 % of its volume, made of water, proteins (albumin, clotting factors), salts and nutrients.
Serum is plasma without its clotting factors.
Stopping a bleed: which step comes after "Injury to the vessel wall"?
- Reflex vasoconstriction
- Platelets stick to collagen
- Platelets aggregate: platelet plug
- The coagulation cascade activates
Show the answer
Reflex vasoconstriction
Platelets plug, fibrin strengthens, plasmin dissolves once the wall has healed.
Haematocrit: what is it?
Show the answer
The share of blood volume taken by red cells, around 40 to 50 %.
It falls in anaemia and rises in dehydration.
A group A+ patient needs a red cell transfusion. What can they receive?
- Only AB+
- B+
- Any group
- A or O, Rh+ or Rh−
Show the answer
A or O, Rh+ or Rh−
Their anti-B would destroy B or AB red cells.
Red blood cell: what is it?
Show the answer
A cell without a nucleus, packed with haemoglobin, that carries oxygen and lives about 120 days.
The spleen destroys aged red cells.
Why is AB plasma the 'universal donor' plasma?
- It contains every antibody
- It has no proteins
- It is Rh−
- It contains neither anti-A nor anti-B
Show the answer
It contains neither anti-A nor anti-B
For plasma, the rule is the reverse of the one for red cells.