Haematology III - Lecture 10

Question 1

What type of white blood cells does the common lymphoid progenitor produce?

Answer 1

○ B lymphocyte
○ T lymphocyte
○ Natural killer cell

Question 2

What type of white blood cells does the common myeloid progenitor produce?

Answer 2

○ Basophils
○Neutrophils
○ Eosinophils
○ Monocyte

Question 3

What roles do white blood cells have?

Answer 3

○ Defense against pathogens
○ Toxin and waste removal
○ Removal of damaged cells
○ Act mainly outside in tissues

Question 4

What are the characteristics of white blood cells?

Answer 4

○ Can migrate out of the bloodstream (extravasation diapedesis)
○ Capable of amoeboid movement
○ Attracted to a specific chemical stimuli

Question 5

What cells are capable of phagocytosis?

Answer 5

○ Neutrophils
○ Eosinophils
○ Monocytes

Question 6

What is the normal WBC count?

Answer 6

4-11 x 10^9 /litre blood

Question 7

What is the difference between granulocytes and agranulocytes?

Answer 7

○ Granulocytes: contain granules (end with phil)
○ Agranulocytes: don’t contain granules (end with cyte)

Question 8

What is the ratio between RBCs, platelets and WBCs

Answer 8

700:40:1

Question 9

What is the structure of neutrophils?

Answer 9

○ 9-15um in diameter
○ 2-5 lobes on nucleus
○ Granular cytoplasm

Question 10

What is the function of neutrophils?

Answer 10

○ First line of defence against bacterial infection
○ Phagocytic
○ Mobile
○ Circulates in blood for ~10 hours
○ Major constituent of pus

Question 11

What is the structure of eosinophils?

Answer 11

○ 10-12um in diameter
○ Bilobular nucleus (2 lobes)
○ Granules are stained red

Question 12

What is the function of eosinophils?

Answer 12

○ Release toxic compounds e.g. NO and cytotoxic enzymes
○ Count increased in allergies and asthma
○ Combat parasitic infections
○ Also attack bacteria, protozoa and debris
○ Circulate in blood ~8-12 hours and then migrate to tissues
○ Survive for ~1-3 days

Question 13

What is eosinophilia?

Answer 13

○ Increased number in eosinophils
○ Seen where there is an allergic reaction or acute asthmatic attack

Question 14

What is the structure of basophils?

Answer 14

○ 8-10um diameter
○ Bilobed S shaped nucleus
○ Large cytoplasmic granules
○ Granules: histamine and heparin

Question 15

What is the function of basophils?

Answer 15

○ Inflammatory response
○ Maybe precursors to mast cells - share a common bone marrow precursor

Question 16

What is the structure of monocytes?

Answer 16

○ Largest white cell
○ Up to 20um in diameter
○ Horse shoe shaped nucleus
○ Extensive cytoplasm

Question 17

What is the function of monocytes?

Answer 17

○ Little function in blood
○ Migrate out of circulation after 3-4 days
○ Differentiate into tissue macrophages: survive for several months-years
○ Phagocytic

Question 18

What is the structure of lymphocytes?

Answer 18

○ Small white cell
○ 6-15um in diameter
○ Lifespan: weeks to several years

Question 19

What is the function of lymphocytes?

Answer 19

○ Central role in all immunological defense mechanisms
○ Circulate between various lymphoid tissues and all other tissues of body via blood and lymphatic vessels

Question 20

What are three types of lymphocytes and their function?

Answer 20

○ T cells: mediate cell-mediated immunity
○ B cells: differentiate into plasma cells and secrete antibodies
○ Natural killer cells: important in preventing cancer

Question 21

What is the percentage of each white blood cell?

Answer 21

○ Neutrophils: 50-70%
○ Lymphocytes: 20-30%
○ Monocytes: 2-10%
○ Eosinophils: 2-4%
○ Basophils: <1%
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