Components Of Blood Flashcards
What is contained in serum of the blood? (3)
• Glucose
• Electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium
• Proteins, such as immunoglobulins (antibodies) and hormones
Where is bone marrow most commonly found? (4)
Pelvis
Vertebrae
Ribs
Sternum
What is the name of the first undifferentiated stem cell of the haematological line? What 3 things can it differentiate into?
Pluripotent haematopoietic stem cells
• Myeloid stem cells • Lymphoid stem cells • Dendritic cells (via different intermediate stages)
What is the precursor to red blood cells?
Reticulocytes
Which stem cell line are RBCs from?
Myeloid stem cell
How long do RBCs survive?
4 months (120 days)
What is the precursor to platelets?
Megakaryocytes
What stem cell line are platelets from?
Myeloid stem cell
What is the lifespan of a platelet?
10 days
What is the precursor for all WBCs of the myeloid stem cell line?
Myeloblast
What can Myeloblasts differentiate into? (5)
• Monocytes then macrophages
• Neutrophils
• Eosinophils
• Mast cells
• Basophils
What cells are formed from the lymphoid stem cell line? (3)
B cell
T cell
NK cell
Where do b cells mature?
Bone marrow
Where do T cells mature?
Thymus gland
What are the 2 main types of T cell?
§ CD4 cells (T helper cells)
§ CD8 cells (cytotoxic T cells)
What is anisocytosis?
Variation of size of RBCs
When is anisocytosis seen? (2)
Myelodysplasic syndrome
Anaemia (e.g. iron deficiency, pernicious, autoimmune )
What are target cells?
RBCs with central pigmented area surrounded by a pale area, surrounded by a ring of thicker cytoplasm on the outside
Bulls eye target
When are target cells seen? (2)
Iron deficiency anaemia
Post splenectomy
What are Heinz bodies?
individual blobs (inclusions) seen inside red blood cells. These blobs are denatured (damaged) haemoglobin.
When are Heinz bodies seen? (2)
G6PD deficiency
Alpha Thalassaemia
What are Howell jolly bodies?
Individual blobs of DNA material seen inside red blood cells. The spleen would Normally remove red blood cells with this DNA material inside.
When are Howell jolly bodies seen? (3)
Post splenectomy
Non-functioning spleen e.g. sickle cell
Severe anaemia when body is regenerating blood cells fast
What are reticulocytes?
What is the thing they contain that makes them different to RBCs?
immature red blood cells. They are slightly larger than normal red blood cells (erythrocytes) and still have RNA material in them. The RNA has a reticular (“mesh-like”) appearance inside the cell
Where do you see a higher % of reticulocytes?
Haemolytic anaemia
What are schystocytes?
fragments of red blood cells. They indicate that red blood cells are being physically damaged during their journey through the circulation
What is microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia?
occurs when small blood clots (thrombi) obstruct small blood vessels. These obstructions churn the red blood cells, causing haemolysis (rupture)
When are schistocytes seen? (4)
Haemolytic uraemia syndrome
DIC
Thrombocytopenia purpura
Metallic heart valves
What are sideroblasts?
immature red blood cells with a nucleus surrounded by iron blobs
What is sideroblastic anaemia?
occurs when the bone marrow cannot incorporate iron into the haemoglobin molecules
What are the 2 causes of sideroblastic anaemia?
Genetic defect
Myelodysplasic syndrome
What are smudge cells?
ruptured white blood cells that occur while preparing the blood film when the cells are aged or fragile
What are smudge cells associated with?
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
What are spherocytes?
sphere-shaped red blood cells without the bi-concave disk shape.
When are spherocytes seen? (2)
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
Hereditary spherocytosis
What are blast cells?
Large immature cells with a large nucleus
What are blast cells associated with?
Acute leukaemia
