Blood and Hematopoiesis Flashcards
What are the functions of blood?
- transportation
- temperature regulation
- water balance (blood volume)
What are the components of plasma?
- proteins: albumin, globulin, fibrinogen
- water
- other solutes
How is serum different from plasma?
- serum lacks coagulation proteins (fibrinogen)
Describe Erythrocytes and their function
- most numerous of the formed elements
- carry oxygen to tissue and carbon dioxide back to the lungs
- in most species, a nucleate and biconcave discs
Describe Canine Erythrocytes
- have central pallor
- clearly biconcave discs
- lifespan: 110 days
Describe Feline Erythrocytes
- majority are monoconcave discs
- less central pallor
- lifespan: 70 days
Describe Equine Erythrocytes
- no central pallor
- lifespan: 160 days
Describe Bovine Erythrocytes
- no central pallor
- lifespan: 145 days
Describe Goat Erythrocytes
- spherical and irregular shaped: poikilo cytosis
Describe Deer Erythrocytes
- sickle-shaped
Describe Camelid Erythrocytes
- elliptical shaped
- adapted for drinking a lot of water following a period of no water
Describe Erythrocytes of Avians/Reptiles/Amphibians/Fish
- nucleated RBCs
Describe Neutrophils
- most numerous WBC
- granules contain antibacterial substances
- larger than RBC, segmented nucleus, dense violet chromatin, pale staining cytoplasm
What are heterophils?
- equivalent of neutrophils in rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, reptiles, and amphibians
- granules are rice shaped and stain red
Describe Lymphocytes
- 2nd most numerous in the blood
- found in blood, lymphatic circulation, lymphocytes
- B and T cells, large granular, reactive, and plasma cells
Describe the appearance of small and large granular lymphocytes on a blood smear
small: round, dense nucleus
- scant amount of cytoplasm
large, granular: little granules in them
Describe the appearance of Plasma cells on a blood smear
- round nucleus with coarse chromatin
- bright blue cytoplasm
Describe Monocytes and their functions
- macrophage precursors
- less numerous than neutrophils and lymphocytes in the blood
- phagocytosis of mycobacteria and fungi
- antigen presentation
- iron storage and recycling
Describe the appearance of monocytes on a blood smear
- largest on blood smears
- abundant blue cytoplasm
- nucleus is magenta
- chromatin less dense than a neutrophil
Describe Eosinophils
- present in low numbers
- contain eosinophili granules that are anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic
- modulate delayed and immediate type hypersensitivity
- attracted by histamine
Describe the appearance of eosinophil on a blood smear
- abundant pale cytoplasm
- numerous granules stain pink
- nucleus is segmented
Describe Basophils
- least numerous WBC in blood
- granules contain histamine and other proteins
- increased concentration associated with parasitic infestations and allergic reactions (heartworm)
Describe the appearance of basophils on a blood smear
- very uncommon to see on a blood smear
- granules are basophilic, dark purple
- abundant purple cytoplasm
- long, ribbon-like segmented nucleus
- cats have lavender granules
Describe Platelets/Thrombocytes
- small, anucleate discoid cytoplasmic fragments
- avian/reptile/amph are nucleated and called thrombocytes
- packed full of granules
- primary function to make plug for hemostasis
- play a role in inflammation (cytokines)
- cats are frequently activated
Describe the appearance of platelets on a blood smear
- smaller than RBC
- red-purple granules
- no nucleus
Explain how platelets are formed
- megakaryocytes in the bone marrow
- extend cytoplasmic pseudopodia through the sinusoids
- as blood flows by, it snips off these extensions and makes platelets
What are the final 3 stages of Erythropoiesis?
metarubicyte (still contains nucleus)
polychromatophil
erythrocyte
What are the final 3 stages in Neutrophil maturation?
neutrophilic metamyelocyte
neutrophilic band
segmented neutrophil
Describe Granulupoiesus
- forms eosinophils, neutrophils, and basophils
- occurs in bone marrow
- regulated by CSFs and inflammatory cytokines
Where do B cells mature?
Where to T cells mature?
B cells: bone marrow
T cells: thymus
Why would an erythrocyte have a nucleus?
- regenerative anemia
- bone marrow damage
- diseases affecting RBC maturation
- damage to spleen
- some toxins (lead)
