Blood Flashcards
Name the leucocytes
Neutrophils
Eosinophils
Basophils
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
What is blood
Fluid connective tissue
What are the constituents of blood
Plasma 56%
Cellular component 44%
- leucocytes 1%
- erythrocytes 43%
Describe plasma
Blood minus the cells and comprises:
water
salts and minerals
plasma proteins (albumins, globulins, fibrinogen)
hormones, signal molecules, other clotting factors etc.
Define serum
Plasma minus the clotting factors
Describe erythrocytes
Most common - 4 to 6 million per mL blood
Lifespan - 4 months
Produced in liver (fetus) and bone marrow (hematopoietic stem cells)
Enucleate, biconcave discs - approx. 6.5-8.5 um in diameter
Major protein - haemoglobin
Destroyed - liver and spleen
Cell membrane has an important endoskeleton attached (major protein - spectrin)
What are the three categories of leucocytes (white cell)
Granulocytes - contain visible granules
Agranulocytes - no visible granules
Platelets - cell fragments
Describe granulocytes
40-75% neutrophils
5% eosinophils
0.5% basophils
Describe agranulocytes
20-50% lymphocytes
1-5% monocytes
What are the commonest white blood cell
Neutrophils
What are the commonest granulocytes
Neutrophils
What can neutrophils also be called
Polymorphonuclear leucocytes
Describe a neutrophil
Multi-lobed nucleus
Granular cytoplasm
12-14um in diameter - larger than red blood cells
Mobile and motile - circulate through blood and invade tissue spaces (glycosaminoglycan matrix of tissues)
What is the phagocytotic properties of neutrophils
Engulf and destroy bacteria and other foreign macromolecules
Use respiratory burst - cytoplasm contains myeloperoxidase - important in this
How many cytoplasmic granules do neutrophils and what are there names
Primary granules
Secondary granules
Tertiary granules
