Chapter 34, Problem 7A

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

The circulatory system includes the heart, blood vessels and blood. The blood transports oxygen and nutrients or mineral to each cell inside the body and picks up waste products (like carbon dioxide) for removal from the body. The bulk of our blood is composed of plasma. Floating inside the plasma are the red blood cells that transport oxygen, the white cells that develop part of the immune system, and clotting cells are called platelets. The two important ways to categorize blood groups are the ABO system and the Rh system. The four main blood groups in the ABO system are A, B, AB and O. A person’s blood group is decided via a pair of genes, one gene inherited from every parent.

Answer to Problem 7A

Correct answer :

The correct answer is option B. type A or type O.

Explanation of Solution

Explanation/justification for the correct answer :

Option B. type A or type O. If a teenager with type A blood is injured in an auto accident and needs a blood transfusion, then he or she will receive blood type A or type O. So, the correct answer is option B.

Explanation for incorrect answer :

Option A. only type A. A blood group can donate to A type or AB type and can receive blood from A type or O type. So, this is an incorrect answer.

Option C. only type AB. If one has type AB blood, one can receive any type of blood and be referred to as a universal recipient but can donate only to AB type blood group. So, this is an incorrect answer.

Option D. only type O.  O blood is referred to as universal donors because their donated red blood cells have no A, B or Rh antigens and can therefore be safely given to people of any blood group. So, this is an incorrect answer.