1. Blood and hematopoiesis Flashcards
What are the 3 main functions of blood?
- Transport
- Protection
- Regulation
How can blood participate in transport?
- Gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) between the lungs and rest of the body
- Nutrients from the digestive tract and storage sites to the rest of the body
- Waste products to be detoxified or removed by the liver and kidneys
- Hormones to their target cells
- Heat to the skin so as to help regulate body temperature
How can blood participate in protection function?
- Leukocytes, or white blood cells, destroy invading microorganisms and cancer cells
- Antibodies and other proteins destroy pathogenic substances
- Platelet factors initiate blood clotting and help minimize blood loss
How can blood participate in regulation?
- pH by interacting with acids and bases
- Water balance by transferring water to and from tissues
3 main elements of the blood
- Red blood cells (erythrocyte)
- White blood cells (leukocytes)
- Platelets (thrombocytes)
Compare the sizes of RBCs, WBCs & Platelets (from large to small)
Red blood cells (4-6 million/mm3)
> Platelets (250 000-400 000/mm3)
> white blood cells (5000-9000/mm3)
2 types of White blood cells (leukocytes)
- Agranulocytes - mononuclear
- Granulocytes - polymorphonuclear
2 subtypes of Agranulocytes - mononuclear (WBCs category)
- Lymphocytes (20-30%)
- Monocytes (3-8%)
3 subtypes of Granulocytes - polymorphonuclear (WBCs category)
- Neutrophils (60-70%)
- Eosinophils (2-4%)
- Basophils (0,5-1%)
What are the 2 staining steps for blood smears?
- May-Grünwald solution (methanol - fixative, methylene blue - basic dye, eosin - acidic dye)
- Giemsa solution (azure - basic dye, eosin - acidic dye)
Composition of May-Grünwald solution
- methanol - fixative
- methylene blue - basic dye
- eosin - acidic dye
Composition of Giemsa solution
- azure - basic dye
- eosin - acidic dye
What does acidic dye stain?
red blood cells, granules of eosinophils
What does basic dye stain?
cell nuclei, granules of basophils, RNA of the cytoplasm
Does the RBCs have nuclei?
No
Does the RBCs have organelles?
No
Shape of RBCs?
Biconcave
Lifetime of RBCs?
~ 120 days
What type of of staining is RBC plasma? Why?
eosinophil plasma (proteins, 95% hemoglobin)
What is Anemia?
a decrease in number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. ( The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased. )
Approximate size and lifetime of platelets
- size: 2-3 μm
- lifetime: 7-11 days
What is the composition of platelets?
- granulomer (dense staining, tubules, dense granules)
- hyalomer (microtubules, filaments)
Functions of platelets
blood clotting, clot retraction, clot dissolution
Platelets have the function of blood clotting, clot retraction, clot dissolution
→ How can cytoplasmic constituents be related to these functions?
- α –granules (clotting factors, PDGF growth factors, platelet factor 4, fibronectin, von Willebrandfactor), δ – granules (serotonin, histamine, ADP-, ATP, calcium), λ –granules ( lysosomal enzymes)
- microtubules and filaments (actin, myosin)
- canalicular system (exocytosis of granules)
Are White blood cells (leukocytes) transient in blood?
Yes
White blood cells (leukocytes) use the bloodstream as a ____
vehicle for transport to specific sites
White blood cells (leukocytes) regularly leave the blood through the wall of (1)_____(2t) to enter (2)____(3t)
- capillaries and venules
- the connective tissues, lymphatic tissues and bone marrow.
Functions of white blood cells (leukocytes)
recognition and elimination of pathogen microorganisms, infected cells, unknown molecules, outside agents
Identify this cell.
→ 2 characteristics of this cell
- *Neutrophil granulocytes**
- *(polymorphonuclear neutrophils, polimorphs)**
Identify
Barr body condensed - X chromosome
Characteristics of nucleus of Neutrophil granulocytes
segmented nucleus
Do Neutrophil granulocytes have specific affinity for acid or basic dyes?
No
2 Functions of neutrophils
- first response of acute inflammation
- phagocytosis (specific granules: antibacterial agents, lysosim, collagenase, alkaline phosphatase, azurophilic granules: eg. myeloperoxidase, lysosomal enzymes, lysosim, defensins)
Which form of neutrophil is this?
Matured form with mature nucleus: 3-5 lobes connected by threads of chromatin
Which form of neutrophil is this?
Band neutrophils with band nucleus: elongated, it is not divided into segments
What is the difference between band neutrophils and matured neutrophils?
- mature nucleus: 3-5 lobes connected by threads of chromatin
- band nucleus: elongated, it is not divided into segments
What does left shift of neutrophils mean?
•left shift: increased number of immature granulocytes (mainly neutrophil band forms) indicating acute inflammation, an infection in progress
What type of cell is this?
Eosinophil
What type of cell is this?
Eosinophil granulocytes
Size and life span of Eosinophil granulocytes
- size (diameter) : 12-17 μm
- life span 6 days (at least)
Function of eosinophil granulocytes
fighting viral infections / parasites, acting as mediator of allergic responses, removal of fibrin, phagocytosis of antigen-antibody complexes
What does centre of the eosinophil granules contain?
crystalline body containing major basic protein (MBP) cytotoxicmolecule
What does matrix of granules contain?
RNase, phospholipase, histaminase, arylsulphatase, eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN)
