Blood Test Review Pt. 2

Question 1

Erythrocytes (red blood cells, or RBCs)

Answer 1

Characteristic:
- Most numerus
- Salmon-colored biconcave disks; anucleate
- No nucleus

Function:
Transports oxygen bound to hemoglobin molecules; also transports small amounts of carbon dioxide.

Question 2

Leukocytes (white blood cells, or WBCs) (Granulocytes: Neutrophils, Eosinophils, Basophils)

Answer 2

Granulocytes - Contain visible granules

Neutrophils - Most abundant of WBC. Largest of cells in white cell group, 3,000-7,000, Active phagocytes number increases rapidly during short term or acute infections

Eosinophils - Love red; phil-loving, Red coarse cytoplasm granules, figure-8 or bilobed nucleus stains blue-red. Kills parasitic worms; increase during allergy attacks; might phagocytize antigen-body complexes and inactivate some inflammatory chemicals

Basophils - Like blue, U and S shaped nucleus with constrictions, stains dark blue. Granules contain histamine (vasodilator chemicals) which is discharges at sites of inflammation

Question 3

Agranulocytes ( Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Platelets)

Answer 3

Agranulocytes - Contains no visible granules.

Lymphocytes - Small in size. Part of immune system. B lymphocytes produces antibodies. T lymphocytes involved in graft rejection, fighting tumors and viruses; and activates B lymphocytes

Monocytes - Largest in size, Active phagocytes that become macrophages in the tissues; long-term “clean up team”; increase in number during chronic infections such as tuberculosis.

Platelets - Also called thrombocytes. Essentially irregularly shaped cell fragments; stain deep purple. Needed for normal blood clotting initiate clotting cascade by clinging to broken area help to control blood loss from broken vessels

Question 4

Histamine

Answer 4

Vasodilator

Question 5

What determines the blood types?

Answer 5

Determined by the presence or absence of certain antigens called agglutinogens on the surface of red blood cells