Image: Thomas Fredberg/Science Photo Library/Getty Images
About This Quiz
A vampire is headed straight for you. "I vant to drink your blood," he hisses. To prevent him from sucking the life force straight out of you, you decide to distract him with your amazing knowledge of blood. Take the quiz and prove yourself.
How many liters of blood does the adult human body contain?
5 liters
The adult human body contains approximately 5 liters, or 5.3 quarts, of blood. That makes up 7 to 8 percent of a person's body weight.
10 liters
15 liters
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How long does a red blood cell survive in the bloodstream?
120 days
Red blood cells last an average of 120 days in the bloodstream. As these cells age, they're removed by microphages in the liver and spleen.
1 year
forever
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What is hemoglobin?
a chemical that stimulates the production of red blood cells
a molecule specially designed to hold waste products and remove them from the body
a molecule specially designed to hold oxygen and carry it to cells that need it
Hemoglobin is a protein that carries the oxygen throughout the body.
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What is a hematocrit?
the measure of red blood cells in the blood
The percentage of blood made up of red blood cells is a frequently measured number known as the hematocrit. The ratio of cells in normal blood is 600 red blood cells for each white blood cell and 40 platelets.
a hormone that stimulates production of red blood cells
the nucleus of a red blood cell
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How does blood get its red color?
from proteins located in the bone marrow
from the waste products in the blood
from the iron in hemoglobin
The iron in hemoglobin gives blood its red color. Each molecule of hemoglobin contains four iron atoms, and each iron atom can bind with one molecule of oxygen.
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What is the function of white blood cells?
to carry oxygen from the lungs
to fight infection
White blood cells help to fight infection.
to create clots
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What does it mean when there's an increase of white blood cells in the body?
There's an infection somewhere in the body.
When the number of white blood cells in a person's blood increases, this is a sign of an infection somewhere in the body. In a normal adult body there are 4,000 to 10,000 white blood cells per microliter of blood.
Your body just finished fighting an infection.
There's no oxygen in the blood.
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There are six main types of white blood cells in the blood. Which type is the most common?
lymphocytes
basophils
neutrophils
Neutrophils, which kill bacteria by ingesting them, make up 58 percent of a person's white blood cell count. The other five main types of white blood cells are eosinophils, basophils, bands, monocytes and lymphocytes.
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What substance makes up the majority of plasma?
proteins
water
Plasma is 90 percent water. The other 10 percent dissolved into plasma are materials such as proteins, electrolytes, carbohydrates, cholesterol, hormones and vitamins.
electrolytes
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If you are a universal donor, what blood type do you have?
A
AB
O
People with type O blood are universal donors, because anyone can get a type O blood transfusion. Type O blood has no antigen on the surface that could react with antibodies in the recipient's plasma, which causes a transfusion reaction. Someone with type AB blood is a universal recipient because this blood has no antibodies that could react with donated blood.
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What are the two components that make up blood?
red blood cells and white blood cells
protein and water
cells and plasma
Blood is a mixture of cells and plasma.
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What is the function of platelets in the blood?
clotting
Platelets are used for clotting.
fighting infection
carrying oxygen from the lungs
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Where are blood cells produced?
heart
bone marrow
All blood cells are produced in the bone marrow.
blood vessels
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What is hematopoiesis?
high blood pressure
blood clot
production of blood
When the body produces blood, it is called hematopoiesis.
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Which of the following helps to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the body?
red blood cells
Carbon dioxide is formed in red blood cells. It enters the blood and is brought to the lungs to be released as we breathe.
white blood cells
platelets
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What is the name of the leftover fluid when plasma is clotted?
venom
water
serum
When plasma is allowed to clot, the fluid left behind is called serum.
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What type of blood has both A and B antigens?
A
O
AB
When both A and B antigens are present, you have type AB blood.
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How often can you donate blood?
every eight weeks
Blood can be donated every eight weeks.
as often as you like
every month
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What is apheresis?
transferring blood from a donor to a recipient
separation of components in the blood
Apherisis is the procedure used when it is necessary to remove a specific component of a donor’s blood.
preserving donated blood
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Red blood cells make up what percentage of the elements in blood?
33 percent
50 percent
90 percent
Red blood cells make up more than 90 percent of the elements in the blood.
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You Got:
/20
Thomas Fredberg/Science Photo Library/Getty Images
