Haematopoiesis Flashcards
What is haematopoesis?
The generation of all blood cells from precursor cells.
What fraction (%) of the blood is plasma?
50-60%
What does PCV stand for when talking about components of blood? What is its other name? What cells does it consist of? What fraction (%) of blood is PCV?
Packed cell volume
Also called hematocrit
It is red blood cells and makes up around 40% of blood volume.
What makes up the ‘Buffy coat’ dividing hematocrit from plasma?
White blood cells (leukocytes) and platelets.
Name the X3 types of blood cells and state where they spend their time.
Erythrocytes (RBC’s) - confined to blood vessels
Platelets - confined to blood vessels
Leukocytes (WBC’s) - in transit from blood vessels to and from tissues
What are the main sites of haematopoesis?
The larger bones centrally located, from superior to inferior both in organisation and amount of haematopoesis.
Vertebra and pelvis
Sternum
Ribs
Femur
What is a totipotent stem cell?
Can form a complete organism.
What is a pluripotent stem cell?
Can form any type of body cell.
What is a multipotent stem cell?
Can divide into multiple but restricted cell types.
What is a unipotent stem cell?
Can only produce 1 type of cell.
Complete the following:
________ stem cell ——> ________ cells ——> differentiated blood cells
Multipotent
Progenitor
Where does the process of haematopoesis occur?
In the bone marrow, but fully matured cells are only found in the blood vessels or tissues.
Which artery is the main blood supply to the bone marrow?
The nutrient artery.
In which cavity does the bone marrow sit?
The medullary cavity.
Where does haematopoesis occur in relation to the blood vessels in the medullary canal?
It occurs between the vasculature, in the extra vascular spaces between the medullary sinuses.
