Hematology Flashcards
What is the main function of RBCs?
To carry oxygen via hemoglobin molecules
Blood is a body fluid with 4 main functional components…
- Plasma
- Red blood cells (erythrocytes)
- White blood cells (leukocytes)
- Platelets (thrombocytes)
Describe RBC shape
biconcave disk
Describe RBC nucleus
Anucleate (no nucleus) - not alive
What blood component contributes to blood viscosity?
RBCs
Which is more numerous in the blood? RBCs or WBCs?
RBCs
Briefly describe erythropoiesis
Process of RBC production
- Multipotent stem cell differentiates into myeloid stem cell
- Myeloid stem cell differentiates into an erythrocyte (stimulated by erythropoietin produced by the kidneys)
- Erythrocyte differentiates into a reticulocyte (newborn RBC)
Reticulocyte
Immature RBCs, still contain some ribosomal RNA (producing hemoglobin)
Erythropoiesis begins in the…
bone marrow
Reticulocytes do not normally circulate in the peripheral blood except in states of…
anemia
Erythropoietin
Hormone produced by renal tubule cells in response to blood O2 levels - stimulates erythropoiesis
When the need for oxygen is significant and acute (eg. in a state of anemia), the bone marrow might push out …
immature RBC precursors or reticulocytes into the bloodstream
RBC oxygenation happens in …
lungs
RBCs pick up oxygen molecules via … from the lung alveoli
diffusion
Hemoglobin is comprised of …
4 globulin subunits (2 alpha, 2 beta)
Hemoglobin
Oxygen carrying molecule in the blood. Heme (iron-containing molecule) bound to globin proteins.
Alterations in hemoglobin sructure will alter its ability to…
carry oxygen
Describe carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning causes hemoglobin to bind more tightly to oxygen, causing oxygenated blood to flow through the body but without dropping oxygen off to the tissues.