Haematology Flashcards
What are the three main components of blood?
Plasma
Buffy coat
Erythrocytes
Explain blood plasma
Plasma is made of 90% water
It has:
- ions
- plasma proteins
- nutrients
- wastes
- gases
- electrolytes
- hormones
What are the main plasma proteins?
Albumin (57%)
Globulin (38%)
Fibrinogen (4%)
Prothrombin (1%)
What are the main nutrients in plasma?
Glucose, fatty acids, amino acids, vitamin
What makes the plasma proteins?
The liver
Mention the function of albumin
Carrier of molecules through circulation
Why is plasma given to patients?
Given to patients with clotting factor deficiencies to boot blood volume and prevent shock
Explain the buffy coat
It constitutes 1% of blood.
It is a thin whitish layer with leukocytes and platelets
What is the function of leukocytes? Where are they found?
Protect body from infections
Found in blood and lymph tissue
What are the non granulated leukocytes?
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
Explain each non granulated leukoctye
Lymphocyte:
- in lymphatic system
- two subtypes: t cells and b cells
Monocyte:
- largest leukocyte
- circulate in blood and spleen
- can differentiate to macrophage
- migrate to bone marrow, spleen, liver, lymph nodes to develop to specialised cells
Explain the t cells
T cells are made in bone marrow but mature in thymus
Have various subtypes
- t cytotoxic / killer cell
- t helper
- t delayer
- t suppressor
- t cell attack virus
Explain the b cells
B cells are made and mature in bone marrow
Have two sub types:
- large plasma antibody-producing cell
- b memory cell
What are the granulated leukocytes?
Neutrophil
Eosinophil
Basophil
Explain each granulated leukocyte
Neutrophil:
- circulate for 6 -10 hours
- first to arrive
- mobile and active
- granules contain enzyme to kill, digest bacteria
Eosinophil:
- parasites and cancer
- irritants that cause allergies
- granules have powerful enzymes
- neutralise effects of inflammatory substances like histamine
Basophil:
- allergic reactions
- bind to irritant chemical to cell membrane
- release contents in granules (histamine, serotonin)
- dilate capillary blood vessels and increase permeability to allow blood components to pass through inflamed site
What are thrombocytes?
They are platelets
Oval shaped
Release enzyme to make blood clot
What is the enzyme released to create blood clot?
Thrombin
What is haematopoiesis?
Process of blood cell formation
What is the common stem cell from which all blood cells come from?
Hemocytoblast or hematopoietic stem cell
Explain how haematopoiesis occurs?
Hematopoietic stem cell differentiates into any of these two:
1. Myeloid progenitor cell or…
2. Lymphoid progenitor cell
Myeloid progenitor cells turns to:
- megakaryocyte -> platelets
- erythrocyte
- neutrophil
- monocyte -> dendritic cell or macrophage
- eosinophil
- basophil
Lymphoid progenitor cell turns to:
- t cell (lymphocyte)
- b cell (lymphocyte)
- nk cell
(all of these can turn to plasma cell)
What accelerated platelet production?
Thrombopoietin
What prompts red bone marrow to produce leukocytes?
Colony stimulating factor and interleukins
What hormone controls erythrocyte production?
Erythropoietin
What is the difference between old erythrocytes and new ones?
Old: can’t synthesize protein, grow or divide
New: can synthesize Hb (hemoglobin)
