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SFM Exam 1 > Blood Histology > Flashcards

Blood Histology Flashcards

1
Q

Describe blood

A

A fluid Ct that circulates through the cardiovascular system
Consists of cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets) and a protein rich fluid known as plasma

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2
Q

What are the functions of blood?

A

Delivery of nutrients and oxygen as well as transport of wastes and CO2
Delivery of hormones, regulatory substances and immune system cells
Maintenance of homeostasis: acts as a buffer, participates in coagulation and thermoregulation

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3
Q

What is packed cell volume (PCV)?

A

Volume of RBCs in a blood sample

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4
Q

What is the normal percent of RBCs in a male?

A

39-50%

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5
Q

What is the normal percent of RBCs in a female?

A

35-45%

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6
Q

What is considered to be the formed elements component of blood and where can they be found?

A

Formed elements are the erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets and are located in the Buffy coat (~1% of blood volume)

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7
Q

Describe blood plasma

A

Liquid extracellular material

>90% H2O by weight

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8
Q

Blood plasma is a solvent for a variety of solutes including

A

Proteins (albumin, globulins, fibrinogen), regulatory substances, nutrients, electrolytes, dissolved gases and wastes

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9
Q

What is serum?

A

ECF component of blood that is present after the coagulation process is complete (it lacks clotting factors)

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10
Q

What is interstitial fluid derived from?

A

Blood plasma and its electrolyte composition reflects that of the blood plasma from which it is derived

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11
Q

What are the three main plasma proteins?

A

Globulins, albumin and fibronectin

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12
Q

Gamma globulins

A

Immunoglobulins

Functional immune system molecules

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13
Q

Describe alpha globulin and beta globulin (non-immune globulins)

A

Maintain osmotic pressure within vascular walls
Serve as carrier proteins
Includes fibronectin, lipoproteins and coagulation factors

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14
Q

Describe albumin

A

Main protein constituent (~50%)
Smallest plasma protein
Made in the liver
Exerts concentration gradient between blood and extracellular tissue fluid
Source of major colloid osmotic pressure, increases osmotic pressure on vessel walls
Carrier protein for thyroxin, bilirubin and barbiturates

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15
Q

Describe fibronectin

A

Largest plasma protein

Made in the liver

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16
Q

Describe fibronectin and its clotting process

A

Soluble fibrinogen is cleaved into an insoluble protein fibrin
Fibrinogen chains are cleaved into fibrin monomers -> monomers polymerize forming long fibers —> become cross linked —> form an impermeable net preventing further blood loss

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17
Q

Where are the formed elements made?

A

All formed in the bone marrow

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18
Q

Do erythrocytes have a nucleus or organelles?

A

Erythrocytes are anucleate and devoid of typical organelles

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19
Q

What are the hallmark characteristics of erythrocytes?

A

Disc shaped, stain uniform all with eosin and have an area of central pallor

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20
Q

Describe RBC flexibility

A

Their biconcave disc is extremely flexible

20-30% increase in surface area compared to a sphere shape relative to cell volume

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21
Q

What other function do RBCs serve?

A

They serve as a histological ruler - they are used to compare other blood cell types

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22
Q

What is the lifespan of an erythrocyte?

A

120 days

~1% of RBCs are removed each day and phagocytosed in the spleen, bone marrow and liver

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23
Q

Describe the RBC plasma membrane

A

Composed of a lipid bilayer including blood group surface Ags
Stabilized by various proteins that directly impact membrane flexibility

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24
Q

What is spectrin?

A

A dimeric, springy protein that forms a wheel-like meshwork and attaches to membrane bound hubs

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25
Describe spectrin and its role in RBC plasma membranes
Spectrin dimers interact with each other and actin oligomers which creates a spectrin-actin skeleton that is connected to the cell membrane by - ankyrin, band 4.2 and band 3 - protein 4.1 binds the tail of spectrin to glycophorin A
26
Describe the affinity/basis for staining and cellular components of basophilic (deep blue) staining
Affinity for the basic dye methylene blue | Cellular component: DNA and RNA in ribosomes
27
Describe the affinity/basis for staining and cellular components of azurophilic (purple) staining
Affinity for azure dyes | Cellular component: lysosomes, some leukocyte granules
28
Describe the affinity/basis for staining and cellular components of eosinophilic (pink/red aka acidophilia) staining
Affinity for the acidic dye eosin | Cellular component: cytoplasm and ECM
29
Describe the affinity/basis for staining and cellular components of neutrophilic (salmon pink/iliac) staining
Affinity for a dye thought to be of neutral pH (its not) | Cellular component: specific to cytoplasmic granules of neutrophils
30
What are reticulocytes?
Immature erythrocytes released from bone marrow that constitute less than 1% of circulating RBCs
31
Do reticulocytes have a nucleus and organelles?
They are anucleate but still contain mitochondria, ribosomes and Golgi elements meaning they continue to synthesize Hb
32
What are the characteristic hallmarks of reticulocytes?
RNA will stain slightly basophilic (brilliant cresyl blue)
33
Describe the reticulocytes maturation process
Enter the circulation —> lose all polyribosomes —> mature as erythrocytes within 48 hours
34
Which leukocytes are known as granulocytes?
Neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils
35
Which leukocytes are considered to be agranulocytes?
Lymphocytes and monocytes
36
What are the varying amounts of leukocytes found in the blood?
Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils and Basophils Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas
37
What influences the peripheral blood leukocyte count?
Cell number in precursors and storage populations (bone marrow, thymus, circulation and tissues) Rate of release of cells from storage pools and into circulation Proportion of cells adhering to blood vessel walls, the marginal pool Rate of extravasation (blood —> tissues)
38
What cell is the most numerous circulating WBC?
Neutrophils (50-70%)
39
What is the hallmark characteristic of neutrophils?
Segmented multi-lobed nucleus and general lack of cytoplasmic staining
40
What are neutrophils function in acute inflammation and tissue injury?
Secrete enzymes (via granules), ingest damaged tissue and kill invading micro-organisms Recognize and bind to bacteria, foreign organisms and other infectious agents Cells and their debris in tissues are visually recognized as pus
41
What are some reasons for altered production of blood cell populations?
Infections, inflammatory challenges, genetic diseases, toxins, nutritional deficiency, etc
42
Describe neutrophil shift
Neutrophils arise from a step wise lineage of precursor cells If neutrophil demand increases dramatically immature cells (band cells) are mobilized into circulation (left shift)
43
What are bands?
Immature neutrophils with a banded nucleus vs segmented or lobed
44
Describe the key role WBCs play in defending against invading pathogens and repair of injured tissues
Cytokine release looses intercellular junctions and increases cell adhesion in vessel walls WBCs interact and adhere to vessel wall and extend through openings between endothelial cells WBCs migrate out of the venule (diapedesis) Attraction occurs through chemical mediators (chemotaxis)
45
What are some hallmark characteristics for eosinophils?
Abundance of large acidophilic granules staining intensely pink or red, similarly sized to neutrophils but have a bi-lobed nucleus
46
What is the percentage of eosinophils of circulating WBCs?
1-4%
47
What do eosinophil granules contain?
Histaminase which moderates effects of inflammatory vasoactive mediators
48
What are some functions of eosinophils?
Phagocytose Ag-Ab complexes Increase counts with allergies and/or parasitic infection (worms) —> eosinophilia May mediate chronic inflammation (i.e. lung tissues in asthmatics)
49
What are hallmark characteristics for basophils?
Basophilic, specific granules that stain intensely purple, lobed nucleus that is usually obscured by granules
50
What is the percent composition of basophils in circulating WBCs?
Least numerous <1%
51
Functions of basophils
Release vasoactive agents (heparin, histamine) and supplement mast cell function Responsible for severe vascular disturbances associated with type 1 hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis -Binds IgE Ab complexes of plasma cells -Triggers exocytosis of granules
52
What is the percent composition of lymphocytes in circulating WBCs?
20-40%
53
What are the hallmark characteristics of lymphocytes?
Intensely staining, spherical nucleus with thin, pale, blue rim of cytoplasm (small, medium and large lymphocytes)
54
Which cells are the main functioning cells of the immune system?
Lymphocytes
55
Are lymphocytes terminally differentiated?
They are not terminally differentiated | Can differentiate into other effector cells including T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes (and then plasma cells) and NK cells
56
Which WBC is the largest?
Monocytes
57
What percent of circulating WBCs are monocytes?
2-8%
58
What are the hallmark characteristics of monocytes?
Indented, heart shaped nucleus with paler cytoplasm, contain azurophilic granules
59
Which cell is a precursor cell of the mononuclear phagocytic system?
Monocytes
60
Describe monocyte differentiation
Differentiate in tissues in response to inflammation: monocyte leaves vasculature -> macrophage -> phagocytosis
61
What are thrombocytes (platelets) derived from?
Small bits of cytoplasm from megakaryocytes which are large polyploid cells in the bone marrow that have broken off
62
What is the life span of a thrombocyte?
Circulate as discoid structures with a lifespan of ~10 days
63
What are the hallmark characteristics of thrombocytes?
Small, membrane bound cytoplasmic fragments
64
Functions of thrombocytes
Contain granules that release platelet specific proteins, function in controlling blood loss and hemostasis Bind to, coat and plug damaged vessel walls and help activate the blood clotting cascade
65
What is anemia?
Decreased Hb levels
66
Most anemia’s result in reduction in the number of RBCs which may be caused by what?
Hemorrhage, hemolytic anemia (accelerated destruction of RBCs) or insufficient dietary Fe, vitamin B12 or folic acid leading to decreased RBC production
67
Clinical sx of anemia vary on the type but what are some common sx?
Weakness, fatigue, loss of energy, frequent HAs, difficult concentrating, dizziness and pale skin
68
Describe hereditary spherocytosis
Inherited disorder caused by intrinsic defects in RBC cell membrane that result in the RBCs becoming spherical shaped
69
What mutation is responsible for 50% of all heredity spherocytosis cases?
Mutations in ANK1 | Other mutations include EPB42, SPTA1 and SPTB
70
How does hereditary spherocytosis present on blood smears?
Apparent on smears as small dark (hyperchromic) and lacking central pallor
71
What other conditions may also occur with hereditary spherocytosis?
Reticulocytosis (increased number of reticulocytes), mild jaundice and splenomegaly
72
Describe sickle cell anemia
Single point mutation (Glu->Val) Beta globin chain of HbA becomes sickle hemoglobin (HbS) RBCs will become more sickle shaped at low O2 Sickled cells are more fragile and cause vessel obstruction and breakdown after 20 days (instead of 120 days)
73
What can sickle cell anemia result in?
Can result in severe hemolytic anemia (hematocrit 18-30%) associated with reticulocytosis and hyperbilirubinemia
74
Describe jaundice
Yellow appearance of the sclera and the skin Can be caused by the destruction of circulating RBCs Some jaundice is common in newborn infants (physiologic jaundice) because of inefficiency of the newborn liver
75
Jaundice is characteristic in a variety of hemolytic anemia that result from
Inherited RBC defects like hereditary spherocytosis | Pathogenic microorganisms, animal venoms, chemicals and drugs
76
What is the normal range for platelets in a CBC?
140/150-400 thousand per cubic mm

SFM Exam 1 (8 decks)

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