Histology Of The Blood Flashcards
What makes up blood
Plasma 56%
Leucocytes 1%
Erythrocytes 43%
What is plasma
Plasma is blood minus the cells
What is plasma comprised of
Water
Salts
Minerals
Plasma proteins
Hormones
Signalling molecules
Other clotting factors
What is serum
Plasma minus clotting factors
What is the lifespan of a erythrocyte
Approx 4 months/120 days
Where are erythrocytes produces in a fetus
Liver
Where are erythrocytes produced in a adult
Bone marrow
What are characteristics of erythrocytes
Enucleate
Biconcave discs
What is the major protein in erythrocytes
Haemoglobin
Where are erythrocytes destroyed
Liver and spleen
What are the 3 types of leucocytes
Granulocytes
Agranulocyte
Platelets
What is the difference between granulocytes and agranulocytes
Granulocytes have visible granules whereas agranulocytes don’t
What type of granulocytes are there
Neutrophils 40-75%
Eosinophils 5%
Basophils 0.5%
What types of agranulocytes are there
Lymphocytes 20-50%
Monocytes 1-5%
What are platelets
Cell fragments
What is the commonest white blood cell
Neutrophil
What is the commonest granulocyte
Neutrophil
What are characteristics of neutrophils
Multi-lobed nucleus
Granular cytoplasm
What is the function of a neutrophil
It has a phagocytic function
Meaning it engulfs and destroys bacteria and other foreign macromolecules
What do neutrophils contain
Myeloperoxidase
What 3 types of cytoplasmic granule do neutrophils contain
Primary granules
Secondary granules
Tertiary granules
What are an example of primary granules
Lysosomes
What are secondary granules
Specific granules which secrete substances that mobilise inflammatory mediators
What are tertiary granules
Gelatinases and adhesion molecules
What % of white blood cells are eosinophils
1%
When do numbers of eosinophils increase
They increase during a parasitic infection