Blood and its Components (U3) Flashcards
What are the four components of the blood?
RBCs, WBCs, platelets, plasma
What do RBCs do?
Carry oxygen from the lungs to the body, and carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs for elimination
What is another name for RBCs?
Erythrocytes
Where are RBCs made. what is it made out of and what is the shape of them?
Produced in bone marrow. filled with hemoglobin, and shaped like a donut with the centre covered
What are two problems with RBCs?
Anemia and polycythemia
Anemia definition?
RBC count is too low
Polycythemia definition?
RBC count is too high
What are two products of RBC?
Hematocrit and hemoglobin
Hematocrit definition?
The percentage of RBCs in the body, value indicates thickness of blood and oxygen carrying capacity
Hemoglobin definition?
A protein in the RBCs that carry oxygen to the body, give blood its colour
What is another name for WBCs?
Leukocytes
What do WBC (count) do?
Help prevent and destroy pathogens causing infection
White cell differential definition?
Breakdown of different types of WBCs as percentages of the total WBC count
What are the three different types of WBCs?
Granulocyte, lymphocyte, monocyte
Granulocyte definition?
Most common types of WBCs, involved in fighting bacterial infection
Lymphocyte definition?
Produce antibodies and regulate immune system
Monocyte definition?
Circulates in the blood approx. 24h then moves to tissue and matures into macrophages (which eat up infection and foreign bodies)
Platelets definition?
Smallest type of blood cell, provides basis of clotting that helps control bleeding
Plasma definition?
Distributes nutrients to tissue and transports waste products
Phlebotomy definition?
The insertion of a needle/cannula (small tube) into a vein for the purpose of withdrawing blood
Phlebotomist definition?
Receive special training in phlebotomy, drawing blood is the main task in their work
Hematologist defintiion?
Study the function and composition of blood
Whole blood definition?
Total volume of plasma and formed elements
Formed elements definition?
RBCs, WBCs, and platelets (45%)
Venipuncturist definition?
Someone who punctures veins
What is included in a CBC?
- RBC count
- WBC count
- Differential WBC (percentage of each WBC type)
- Platelet count
- Hematocrit determination (volume of RBC in the blood)
- Hemoglobin determination (amount of hemoglobin in weight volume)
