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pharmacology > Haematopoietic system (blood) > Flashcards

Haematopoietic system (blood) Flashcards

1
Q

State the blood functions.

A
  • Transports various substances
  • Helps regulate several processes
  • Affords protection against diseases
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2
Q

What is plasma?

A

The liquid in which peripheral blood cells are suspended.

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3
Q

What is plasma composed of?

A
  • 92% of water
  • 7% plasma proteins (including clotting factors)
    Remaining 1%:
  • Electrolytes (Na+ and Cl)
  • Hormones
  • Organic nutrients
  • Metabolic waste (carbon dioxide and urea)
  • Gases (CO2 and O2)
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3
Q

State the blood elements.

A

Erythroytes (red blood cells or RBC)
Leukocytes (white blood cells or WBC)
Platelets

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4
Q

Define hematocrit.

A

Ratio of red blood cells to plasma, expressed as a percentage

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5
Q

State the white blood cells in blood.

A
  • Lymphocytes
  • Monocytes
  • Neutrophils
  • Eosinophils
  • Basophils
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6
Q

Describe the structure of ethryocytes (mature red blood cells).

A
  • Biconcave discs
  • Lack a nucleus and other organelles
  • Consist of plasma membrane, cytosol and haemoglobin
  • The cytosol of RBCs contains haemoglobin
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7
Q

What is the function of the ethryocytes?

A

Transport respiratory gases - oxygen and CO2 (haemoglobin)

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8
Q

Describe the structure of haemoglobin.

A
  • Composed of four protein globin chains; each centred around a heme group
  • In most adult haemoglobin there are two alpha chains and two beta chains
  • Each heme group consists of a porphyrin ring with an iron atom in the centre
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9
Q

Describe the changes in erythrocytes when placed in a hypertonic medium.

A
  • They shrink but the rigid cytoskeleton remains intact creating a spiky surface
  • These cells are said to be crenated
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10
Q

Describe the changes in erythrocytes places in a hypotonic medium.

A
  • They swell and lose their biconcave disk shape
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11
Q

What can abnormal haemoglobin in sickle cell disease cause?

A

RBCs to change shape

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12
Q

What are reticulocytes?

A
  • Less mature erythrocytes
  • RBCs released from the bone marrow into the peripheral circulation
  • Contain residual ribonucleoprotein particles which impart a bluish hue to the cell
  • The increased amount of RNA gives the RBS more of a red-blue colour
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13
Q

Which white blood cells contain bacteria-combating granules?

A

Granulocyte - neutrophil, eosinophil and basophil

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14
Q

Which white blood cells contain no granules?

A

Agranulocyte - lymphocyte and monocyte

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15
Q

State the function of neutrophils.

A
  • The first line of defence against microorganisms, especially bacteria
  • They are active phagocytes
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16
Q

Describe the structure of eosinophils.

A
  • Contain bilobed nucleus
  • Cytoplasm has specific granules that contain a dense filamentous core of major basic protein (MBP)
  • The matrix of the granules contains lysosomal enzymes
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17
Q

What is the function of major basic protein?

A
  • Kill parasitic worms
  • They can phagocytose antigen-antibody complexes and inactivate leukotriens
18
Q

Describe the structure of basophils.

A
  • Has a nucleus; difficult to see because of the large, dark-staining specific granules
  • Granules contain high conc. of heparin, histamine, leukotriene, serotonin, chemotactic factor
19
Q

Describe the function of basophils.

A
  • Mediate the hypersensitivity reaction (bing IgE antibody)
20
Q

Describe the structure of monocytes.

A
  • Large nucleus - ovoid, kidney shaped
  • The cytoplasm is pale and may contain fine granules, free ribosomes
21
Q

How long do monocytes spend in blood?

A
  • About a week and then migrate into tissue where they become macrophages
22
Q

Describe the function of monocytes.

A
  • Ingest and remove tissue debris and infectious agents
23
Q

Describe the structure of lymphocytes.

A
  • Contain a single, deeply stained spherical nucleus that is surrounded by a thin rim of cytoplasm
  • The cytoplasm may contain few granules
24
State the different lymphocytes.
- T cells - B cells - Neutral Killer cells (NK)
25
What do plasma cells produce?
Antibodies
26
Why are monocytes and lymphocytes referred to as mononuclear white blood cells?
- Because their nuclei are not segmented - They do not contain prominent granules in their cytoplasm
27
Describe the structure of platelets.
- Non-nucleated flat, biconvex round or avoid disk - Derived from bone marrow megakaryocytic
28
What is the function of platelets?
- Involved in homeostasis (stop bleeding) - promote the coagulation cascade to form a blood clot
29
What is thrombopoietin?
A deficiency of platelets - may result in bruising and bleeding
30
What are megakaryocytes?
- Giant cells with multiple copies of DNA in the nucleus - The edges of the megakaryocyte break off to form cell fragments called platelets
31
Describe the difference between inactive and activated platelets.
- Inactive are small disk-like cell fragments - Activated develop a spiky outer surface and adhere to each other
32
What is bone marrow?
A soft tissue that fills the hollow centre of bones - it is connective tissue which specialises in production of all formed elements of blood - It is the most rapidly replicating tissue in the body
33
What is hematopoiesis?
- The different blood cells have finite and brief life spans and must be renewed to maintain appropriate circulating levels
34
What is the function of hematopoietic tissue
- Tissue which actively or potentially produce blood cells
35
What are myeloid tissues?
- blood forming tissue identified as 'red marrow' of bones
36
What are lymphoid tissues?
- Are elements of the larger lymphatic system; some lymphocytes arise from proliferation within lymphoid tissues.
37
State the stages of blood clot formation.
1. Vasoconstriction 2. Temporary clot 3. Coagulation
38
State the red blood cell surface molecule and plasma antibody for Type A blood type.
- A only - B only
39
State the red blood cell surface molecule and plasma antibody for Type B blood type.
- B only - A only
40
State the red blood cell surface molecule and plasma antibody for Type AB blood type.
- A and B - Neither
41
State the red blood cell surface molecule and plasma antibody for Type O blood type.
- Neither - Both
42
Describe the function of platelets when there is damage.
- Will not adhere to collagen - Exposed collagen binds and activates platelets - Release of platelet factors - Factors attract more platelets - Platelets aggregate into platelet plug

pharmacology (40 decks)

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