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Ch. 17 Blood
Marieb - Human Anatomy & Physiology 7th Edition
Marieb, Hoehn7th EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780805359091Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 16, Problem 10

Suppose your blood is AB positive. This means that:
a. Agglutinogens A and B are present on your red blood cells
b. There are no anti-A or anti-B antibodies in your plasma
c. Your blood is Rh⁺
d. All of the above

Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the ABO blood group system. Blood type AB means that both A and B agglutinogens (antigens) are present on the surface of your red blood cells.
Step 2: Recognize that individuals with blood type AB do not have anti-A or anti-B antibodies in their plasma, because having these antibodies would cause agglutination against their own red blood cells.
Step 3: Understand the Rh factor. If the blood type is AB positive (AB⁺), it means the Rh antigen (also called the D antigen) is present on the red blood cells, making the blood Rh positive.
Step 4: Combine these facts: AB blood type means both A and B antigens are present, no anti-A or anti-B antibodies are in plasma, and the positive sign indicates the presence of the Rh antigen.
Step 5: Conclude that all the statements (a, b, and c) are true for AB positive blood, so the correct answer is 'd. All of the above.'

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

AB Blood Group Antigens

The AB blood group means that both A and B agglutinogens (antigens) are present on the surface of red blood cells. This is a result of inheriting A and B alleles, causing the immune system to recognize both antigens as self.
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Plasma Antibodies in Blood Types

Individuals with AB blood type do not have anti-A or anti-B antibodies in their plasma because their immune system recognizes both A and B antigens as normal, preventing an immune reaction against these antigens.
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Types of Blood Vessels

Rh Factor and Blood Typing

The Rh factor is a protein found on red blood cells; if present, the blood type is Rh positive (Rh⁺). Being AB positive means the person has both A and B antigens and the Rh antigen, which is important for blood transfusions and pregnancy compatibility.
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Types of Blood Vessels