Blood Cells and Haemopoiesis Flashcards
What type of tissue is blood?
Specialised connective tissue
What are the 3 living elements found in blood?
- Erythrocytes
- Leukocytes
- Thrombocytes
What is the non-living element of blood?
Fluid matrix called plasma
Name 5 functions of blood
- Delivery of nutrients and oxygen to cells
- Transport water and CO₂ away from cells
- Delivery of hormones to and from cells and tissues
- Maintenance of homeostasis
- Transport of humoral agents and cells of immune system
Give 3 examples of how blood maintains homeostasis
- Acts as a buffer
- Participates in coagulation
- Assists with thermoregulation
What are the 2 major groupings in whole blood?
- Blood plasma (55%)
2. Formed elements (45%)
What are the 3 components which make up blood plasma?
- Proteins
- Water
- Solutes
Name 3 proteins which could be found in blood plasma
- Albumins
- Globulins
- Fibrinogen
Name 4 solutes which could be found in blood plasma
- Electrolytes
- Nutrients
- Gasses
- Waste products
What are the 3 components which make up formed elements of blood?
- Red blood cells
- White blood cells
- Platelets
In order of the most abundant to least abundant, name the 5 types of white blood cell
- Neutrophils
- Lymphocytes
- Monocytes
- Eosinophils
- Basophils
What are erythrocytes?
Red blood cells
Describe the major distinction of red blood cells from white blood cells
Red blood cells are anucleate whereas white blood cells are nucleate
Why are red blood cells anucleate?
Maximise area for haemoglobin
Where are red blood cells formed?
Bone marrow
How are red blood cells broken down?
Kupffer cells found in the liver and spleen
Give 3 reasons for erythrocytes being biconcave
- Surface area increased
- Less distance for O₂ and CO₂ to diffuse
- Less likely to rupture
Describe 3 complications of sickle cell anaemia
- Adhere more readily to endothelium of blood vessels leading to thrombosis
- Can accumulate depriving tissue of oxygen
- Break more readily as fragile
What 2 places are white blood cells formed?
- Bone marrow
2. Lymphoid organs
What are the 2 classifications of leukocytes?
- Granulocyte
2. Agranulocyte
What are 2 features of granulocytes?
- Cytoplasm packed with granules
2. Nucleus has 2 or more lobes
What are 3 features of agranulocytes?
- Cytoplasm with few or no granules
- Nucleus not lobed
- Mononuclear
What are 3 types of granulocytes?
- Neutrophils
- Eosinophils
- Basophils
What are 2 types of agranulocytes?
- Lymphocytes
2. Monocytes
Give 4 features of a neutrophil
- Nucleus has 2-5 lobes
- Respond most quickly to tissue destruction by bacteria or fungus
- Numbers increase during acute bacterial infections
- Short life span (1-2 days)
Give 3 features of an eosinophil
- Bilobed nucleus
- Large refractile granules (lysosomes)
- Regulate local inflammatory responses due to allergic or parasitic action
Give 3 features of a basophil
- Irregularly-lobed nucleus
- Numerous large overlying granules containing heparin and histamine
- Associated with systemic inflammation and allergies
Give 3 features of a lymphocyte
- Nucleus is spherical and densely stained
- Usually present in tissues
- Involved in adaptive immune responses i.e. B and T response
Give 3 features of a monocyte
- Kidney shaped nucleus
- Large cell
- Transform into macrophage in tissues and organs
Give 4 features of platelets
- Life span roughly 10 days
- Anucleate
- Possess granules containing growth factors
- Involved in clot formation
What is haemostasis?
The body’s physiological response to preventing and stopping bleeding
What occurs when endothelial injury occurs?
Endothelial cells stop secretion of coagulation inhibitors and secret von Willebrand factor which initiates maintenance of haemostasis
What are the 3 major steps involved in blood clotting?
- Vasoconstriction of blood vessel wall
- Temporary blockage by platelet plug
- Blood coagulation and formation of fibrin clot
What is a platelet plug?
Platelets attach to exposed collagen of vessel wall leading to aggregation of other platelets
What is a fibrin clot?
A fibrin mesh from blood plasma binds together with cells and platelets
Explain an importance of white blood cell count changing
Indication for certain diseases and conditions
Name 3 coagulation factor deficiencies
- Haemophilia
- Von Willebrand’s disease
- Use of warfarin
Name a platelet disorder
Thrombocytopenia
How does blood cell formation occur?
Develop from a pluripotential haemopoietic stem cell in the bone marrow
What does the pluripotent stem cell give rise to?
Two multipotent haemopoietic progenitors
Name 2 multipotent haemopoietic progenitors
- Lymphoid progenitors
2. Myeloid progenitors
Name the process of red blood cell formation
Erythropoiesis
What are 4 features of erythropoiesis?
- Reduction of cell size
- Decrease in nucleus size
- Haemoglobin is produced
- Extrusion of the nucleus
What is the function of erythropoietin?
Increase rate of erythropoiesis due to low levels of oxygen in the blood