Blood Components Flashcards
What is an erythrocyte?
A red blood cell
What is a leukocyte?
A white blood cell
What are the 3 major components of the blood and what percentages do they make up?
- Plasma (55%)
- Erythrocytes (45%)
- Buffy coat (<1%)
What does the Buffy coat contain?
- Leukocytes
2. Platelets
What does haematocrit mean?
The percent of total blood occupied by erythrocytes
What would low haematocrit indicate?
Anaemia
What proteins are in the plasma?
- Albumin
- Globulins
- Fibrinogen
What does albumin do?
Regulates the oncotic pressure of the blood
What would happen if albumin leaked out of the blood?
Fluid would accumulate = oedema
What does albumin transport?
- Hormones
- Drugs
- Metabolites
What is fibrinogen converted into and when does this occur?
Fibrinogen turns to fibrin when it comes into contact with a damaged blood vessel
What does fibrin do?
Initiates the clotting mechanism
What do erythrocytes do?
Transport oxygen and carbon dioxide
What do neutrophils do?
Enter connective tissues and become active phagocytes
What do eosinophils do?
Defence against:
- Parasites
- Allergic reactions
- Chronic inflammation
What do basophils do?
Act similar to mast cells and release vasoactive agents
What do lymphocytes do?
Have a pivotal role in the immune system
What do monocytes do?
Enter connective tissues and become macrophages
What do thrombocytes do?
Blood clot formation and repair of injured tissues
What shape are erythrocytes?
Biconcave discs
What don’t erythrocytes have and why?
No nucleus to make space for more haemoglobin to carry oxygen/carbon dioxide
What is the lifespan of an erythrocyte?
120 days
How are erythrocytes removed from the bloodstream after 120 days?
Phagocytosed by macrophages
What does the cytoskeleton of an erythrocyte do?
- Maintain shape
- Maintain stability
- Maintain flexibility
Why are erythrocytes flexible?
So they can fit through narrow capillaries
What are the 2 types of leukocytes?
- Granulocytes
2. Agranulocytes
What are the most common granulocytes?
- Neutrophil
- Basophil
- Eosinophil
What is special about a neutrophil nucleus?
It is a polymorph so has multiple different shaped nuclei
What do azurophilic granules contain?
Lysosomes
What do tertiary granules contain?
Enzymes that help the neutrophil move to site of inflammation
What type of chromatin is more present in a neutrophil in the blood?
Heterochromatin as the neutrophil is inactive in the blood
What happens to the chromatin when the neutrophil enters the connective tissue?
Neutrophil is activated so heterochromatin becomes euchromatin
What type of nucleus does an eosinphil have?
Bilobed
What do the basophil granules secrete?
- Histamine
2. Hepin
What is hep involved in?
The clotting mechanism
How do basophils become activated?
Bind to specific IgE protein
What do basophils release?
Vasoactive agents
What do vasoactive agents do?
Dilate blood vessels so more blood cells can reach the site
What type of white blood cell are lymphocytes?
Agranulocytes as no granules
How to lymphocytes leave the blood?
Through the lymph nodes
What are lymphocytes classed as in the blood?
Immunocompetent
What do lymphocytes do?
Recognise antigens with specific antigen and initiate immune response/take care of these
How do monocytes travel?
Through the blood
