Blood Flashcards
What are the functions of Blood
- Carrier for nutrients, O2, CO2, Waste products, proteins and hormones.
- Thermoregulation
- Helps maintain normal fluid balance and pH
- Serves as a clinical diagnostic tool
- Rbc and Wbc counts
- Differential leukocyte count,
- Packed cell volume
- Hb concentration
- Blood chemistry
What type of proteins does the blood carry
albumin, fibrinogen, immunoglobulins
What are the components of blood
Blood is made up of plasma and formed elements (rbc,wbc, platelets)
Components of Plasma
Plasma contains 91-92% water and 8-9% solutes (proteins, lipids, and electrolytes);
What are the three layers of centrifuged blood
Centrifuged blood consists of three layers: Erythrocytes (45%, PCV or hematocrit,)
Buffy coat containing leukocytes and
Platelets (1%), and plasma
How to stain Blood Cells
Blood smear is dried, fixed in methanol, and stained with Romanowsky’s stains (Wright’s or Giemsa). Wright’s stain is a mixture of methylene blue (basic dye) and eosin (acidic dye).
What are Erythrocytes
Biconcave discs (elliptical in camels); central pallor, readily visible in humans and dogs, but less evident in other species
Size and number differ among species
What species has one of the largest Erythrocytes
Dogs
What species has one of the smallest Erythrocytes
Goats
What is anisocytosis
Red blood cells ( erythrocytes) varying in size.
Is common in most species
What is poikilocytosis
Variation in shape which is normally present in goats and deer
What is an example of poikilocytosis
Sickle cell due to inherited alteration in HB
What is rouleau formation and how does it effect horses, cats, dogs, pigs, and ruminants
Rouleau formation is the stacking of RBCs
It is common in horses and cats
Intermediate in dogs and pigs
Rare in ruminants
What are reticulocytes
Are Immature RBCs
Contain RNA and polysomes, seen as a reticular mesh when stained with methylene blue but not with Wright’s stain, 1-2% are normally seen in blood smears of dogs and cats but are not seen in horses and ruminants, increase in numbers in anemia in all species except horses.
What are Howell-Jolly Bodies
These are nuclear fragments and appear as basophilic inclusions within RBC, a few Howell bodies are normally seen in dogs and cats, but not in other species.
What are Heinz Bodies
These result from the oxidation of Hb and appear as refractile, light, pale areas in the Hb, especially in cats.
Average Life Span of RBC in Days: Cattle
159
Average Life Span of RBC in Days: Horse
145
Average Life Span of RBC in Days: Dog
120
Average Life Span of RBC in Days: Goat
125