histology of blood

Question 1

what is histology

Answer 1

the study of normal tissues

Question 2

what is histopathology

Answer 2

the study of damaged tissues

Question 3

what are the 7 functions of blood

Answer 3

body heat
coagulation
defence
export
food
gas exchange
hormones

Question 4

what are the three main groups of cell in blood and what do they do

Answer 4

red cells (erythrocytes) - carry oxygen around the body, white cells (leukocytes) - make up our immune system, and platelets (thrombocytes) - assist blood clotting

Question 5

where are blood cells made

Answer 5

in the bone marrow

Question 6

what is the process of making new blood called

Answer 6

haematopoiesis

Question 7

what are the stem cells that form blood called and are they multipotent or pluripotent and why

Answer 7

haematopoietic stem cells - they are multipotent as they can differentiate into lots of different blood cells, not pluripotent a they cannot differentiate into non-blood cells

Question 8

in regards to haematopoiesis, what happens when we age

Answer 8

the sites of haematopoiesis change and decrease

Question 9

if a cell name ends in blast what does this mean about the cell

Answer 9

its only half-finished differentiating

Question 10

what does a megakaryocyte produce

Answer 10

platelets from budding

Question 11

what does neutrophilmaturation produce

Answer 11

neutrophil cells

Question 12

name an example of haematopoietic regulation

Answer 12

erythropoietin (EPO); a response to hypoxic stress - increase the red blood cells in the blood so that more oxygen can be carried

Question 13

what percentage of all blood cells do erythrocytes make up

Answer 13

95%

Question 14

what is the lifespan of a red blood cell

Answer 14

100 days

Question 15

why are red blood cells atypical

Answer 15

they do not contain DNA and they are very small

Question 16

name one feature of a red blood cell that benefits the cells function

Answer 16

they are easily deformed meaning they can squeeze through tiny capillaries

Question 17

white blood cells are known for defending us from attack by bacteria, fungi and viruses but what else do they do

Answer 17

they ensure our body heals correctly when damaged e.g. after surgery

Question 18

what are innate immune cells

Answer 18

cells that non selectively destroy any material deemed as foreign to the body

Question 19

what are adaptive immune cells

Answer 19

cells that target specific foreign bodies to minimalize collateral damage to other cells

Question 20

what are the two major families of white blood cells

Answer 20

lymphoid cells and myeloid cells

Question 21

which two types of cell fall under lymphoid cells

Answer 21

B and T lymphocytes

Question 22

which types of cell fall under myeloid cells

Answer 22

monocyte, basophil, eosinophil, and neutrophil

Question 23

what are the two other ways white blood cells can be grouped and what is the one difference between these and the main grouping

Answer 23

by the appearance of their cytoplasm; agranulocytes and granulocytes, and by the appearance of their nucleus; mononuclear and polymorphonuclear. the only difference is that monocytes join the lymphocytes

Question 24

what do polymorphonuclear cells contain

Answer 24

a continuous nucleus that is join together by a strand of chromatin

Question 25

which white blood cell is our first line of defence and is also the most common white blood cell

Answer 25

neutrophils

Question 26

why are neutrophils short lived

Answer 26

due to the toxins they carry

Question 27

what is degranulation

Answer 27

where a pathogen may be internalised into the cell where it comes into contact with granules - these granules contain enzymes and biochemicals capable of degrading bacteria

Question 28

why are eosinophils given their name

Answer 28

as they react with the dye eosin which gives them a red colour during staining

Question 29

what do eosinophils do

Answer 29

they contribute to protecting the body from large invading organisms, as well as being involved in the pathology of allergy and asthma

Question 30

name 4 cytotoxic enzymes/ biochemicals that eosinophils contain

Answer 30

major basic protein eosinophilic peroxidase eosinophilic cationic protein eosinophilic derived neurotoxin

Question 31

why are basophils given their name

Answer 31

their granules react with the basic dye 'haematoxylin' to produce a blue/purple colour during staining

Question 32

what are the functions of basophils

Answer 32

they have the same response to large invasions and allergies, but they also play a role in the body's' response to exoparasites like mites/ ticks

Question 33

name the 5 important molecules found within basophils granules

Answer 33

histamine (vasodilator), heparin (anticoagulant), serotonin (vasodilator), enzymes, and slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis

Question 34

what are unipotent progenitor cells

Answer 34

cells that migrate into tissues where they become a lineage committed leukocyte called a macrophage

Question 35

what distinct shape do monocytes nuclei have

Answer 35

horseshoe shaped nucleus

Question 36

what do T lymphocytes have on their cell surface and why

Answer 36

T cell receptor complexes - drives specificity to antigens so they can react and be expressed for destruction

Question 37

why are T lymphocytes given their name

Answer 37

as they mature in the Thymus

Question 38

what do B lymphocytes produce

Answer 38

antibodies

Question 39

what do antibodies do

Answer 39

recognise molecules on the surface of pathogens and provide a signal for other more aggressive immune cells to destroy them

Question 40

what are plasma cells

Answer 40

activated B cells that have migrated into tissues to form large antibody producing cells

Question 41

what gives B lymphocytes their name

Answer 41

they were originally found in the organ Bursa

Question 42

what is the scientific name for a platelet

Answer 42

thrombocyte

Question 43

what is the function of thrombocytes

Answer 43

to stop bleeding by secreting substances that clot blood

Question 44

how many thrombocytes can one megakaryocyte produce

Answer 44

4000

Question 45

if megakaryocytes are found within the blood what may this indicate

Answer 45

the presence of disease as they are normally found within the bone marrow

Question 46

what are endothelial cells

Answer 46

the cells that line the inside of blood vessels

Question 47

what is the lumen

Answer 47

the space inside any hollow organ

Question 48

describe endothelial cells

Answer 48

they are squamous (flat) and they form monolayers (one cell thick)

Question 49

name a few things endothelial cells do

Answer 49

control the passage of water and substances from the blood to surrounding tissues, repair damage by sensing tissue stress, help prevent blood clotting by expressing anticoagulant markers