Blood Group of Humans

 

 
10.5 Blood Group of Humans
 

Blood group A:

  • Antigen (on the plasma membrane of erythrocyte): antigen A.
  • Antibody (in the blood serum): anti-B.
  • Can donate blood to the individuals with blood group A and AB only.
  • Can receive bloof from individuals with blood group A and O only.
 

Blood group B

  • Antigen (on the plasma membrane of erythrocyte): antigen B.
  • Antibody (in the blood serum): anti-A.
  • Can donate blood to the individuals with blood group B and AB only.
  • Can receive bloof from individuals with blood group B and O only.
 

Blood group AB:

  • Antigen (on the plasma membrane of erythrocyte): antigen A and B.
  • Antibody (in the blood serum): absent.
  • Can donate blood to the individuals with blood group AB only.
  • Universal receipient.
 

Blood group O:

  • Antigen (on the plasma membrane of erythrocyte): absent
  • Antibody (in the blood serum): anti-A and anti-B
  • Can receive blood from the individuals with blood group O only.
  • Universal donor.
 

Rhesus factor:

  • Refers to the rhesus protein or known as antign D, that also found on the plasma membrane of erythrocyte. 
  • Individuals with antigen D; individual with Rh+.
  • Individuals with no antigen D; individual with Rh-
 
Types of rhesus Antigen and antibody
Presence antigen D Presence of antibody, anti-D (initial)
Rh+ Present Absent
Rh- Absent Absent
 
The effect of Rh+ blood donor to the Rh- blood receiver: 
 
  • During blood transfusion, the blood's donor will react by producing antibody, anti-D.
  • Antibody, anti-D cause the blood's donor agglutinate with the blood's receiver in the body and this can cause death. 
 
Rhesus factor also can cause issues in Rh- mother that has more than one Rh+ children: 
 
  • If Rh-negative mother carries the first child Rh+, there will be no blood agglutination because the mother's blood is separated from the foetal blood through placenta.
  • At the last month of pregnancy, small amount of foetal blood can enters the mother's blood circulation. 
  • This will trigger the mother's immune system untuk produce antibody anti-D. 
  • If the mother is pregnant with Rh+ second baby, the antibody anti-D presence it the mother's blood will flows in the placenta and can destroy the foetal blood. 
  • This can cause brain damage and death to the second baby. 
  • The way to prevent agglutination during second pregnancy: the mother obtain anti Rh globulin through injection right after the first pregnancy to prevent the mother's body to produce antibody anti rhesus.