Kaplan Prep - Blood Flashcards
What are the two main portions of blood?
- Plasma2. the FORMED ELEMENTS consisting of RBCs, WBCs, and PLATELETS
What is Plasma?
It is the liquid portion of the blood.
What are erythrocytes?
red blood cells
What is an acronym used for “red blood cells”?
RBCs
What is the key component of RBCs and what function does it perform?
hemoglobin which can carry oxygen to the body
Why are RBCs red in color?
The reddish color is due to the hemoglobin
Where are red blood cells made?
In the bone marrow
Where are red blood cells destroyed?
In the liver and the spleen
What is another name for leukocytes?
White blood cells
What do white blood cells (leukocytes) do?
help protect the body from infection and disease by destroying foreign material
Are white blood cells able to squeeze through the capillary wall and enter the tissue fluid?
Yes
What are platelets?
Platelets are blood clot cells.
How do platelets perform the process of blood clotting?
As the platelets “clump” at the site injury, they activate the formation of fibrin threads, which, intertwined with red blood cells, form the framework for the clot.
What are the two types of white blood cells?
- Granulocytes 2. Agranulocytes
What are the three types of cells included in Granulocytes?
Neutrophils, Eosinophils, Basophils
What type of cells are the most abundant white blood cell?
Neutrophils
What are Neutrophils responsible for?
fighting infections(especially those that involve bacteria)
What do Neutrophils use to destroy invaders?
Phagocytosis (the ingestion of foreign materials)
What do Eosinophils respond to?
allergic reactions and parasitic infections
What do Basophils do?
They are involved in the release of histamines
What are the rarest type of Granulocyte?
Basophils
What is the most abundant type of Granulocyte?
Neutrophils
Where are Lymphocytes located?
in the lymphatic system
Are Lymphocytes red blood cells or white blood cells?
white blood cells
How many nuclei do Lymphocytes have?
a single nucleus
What are the four different types of lymphocytes?
T cells,B cells,natural killer cells,plasma cells
What are the three functions of lymphocytes?
attacking foreign cells, destroying body cells that have lost normal function, making antibodies
What are the sizes of lymphocytes?
Lymphocyte size can vary but lymphocytes are larger than red blood cells but generally smaller than other white blood cells
What are Monocytes?
They are large white blood cells with a “U” or kidney bean shaped nucleus. Monocytes can move into the tissue where they are then called macrophages. Monocytes and macrophages are phagocytes.
What do you call a monocytes that can move into tissue?
Macrophages.
Are monocytes and Macrophages both Phagocytes?
Yes!
List the four components of the lymphatic system.
1.Lymphatic vessels 2. Lymph nodes 3. Spleen 4. Thymus gland
What is the function of the lymphatic vessels?
Lymphatic vessels carry lymph fluid from the lymphatic capillary system to the subclavian veins
What is the function of Lymph nodes?
rid the flowing lymph of infectious organisms and other debris.
What are the two functions of the spleen?
- to extract old or defective blood cells and platelets 2. remove debris, foreign matter, bacteria, viruses and toxins from the blood that flows through it.
What is the function of Lymphocytes and Macrophages?
They remove infectious organisms and other debris
What is the function of thymus gland?
Thymus gland secretes hormones which enable the T lymphocytes to mature and function as part of the immunity system
What are tonsils?
The tonsils are a group of small lymphoid organs surrounding the throat which gather and destroy bacteria in inhaled air or food.
What cells are involved in providing specific immune responses for the main lymphocytes?
T cells and the B cells.
Where are millions of B cells produced?
In the bone marrow.
What does each B cell have on it’s surface (it has lots of them)?
B cell receptors
What is an antigen?
An antigen is any molecule which can be specifically recognized as foreign by the immune system.
When are B cells activated?
B cells are activated when an antigen BINDS with the B cell’s receptor.
What are the two things that an activated B cell does?
Divides to make memory B cells, Creates plasma cells that make antibodies
What happens once the B cell is activated?
Once activated, the B cell begins to rapidly divide
What is an antibody?
a soluble form of the glycoprotein receptor from the B cell’s surface
What happens when the antibody is released by a B cell?
it binds to the invading antigen either:1. rendering it inactive or 2. causing its destruction through interaction with phagocytes.
What will happen to some activated B cells?
Some activated B cells become memory B cells which continue to produce a small amount of antibody after the infection is over.
What happens if the same pathogen enters the body again?
If the same pathogen enters the body again, the antibody immediately binds with the antigen and targets it for destruction.
Where do T cells originate?
T cells originate in bone marrow and it matures in the thymus gland.
What kind of cell do killer T cells recognize and what do they do with them?
Killer T cells recognize and destroy invading cells containing foreign antigens.
What are the three types of cells that killer T cells attack by releasing cytokines and enzymes which lyse the cell?
virus infected cells,cancer cells,tissue grafts
What do the substances that Helper T cells secrete DO?
activate or enhance immune responses
What cells do B cells need an interaction with before they can begin rapid division?
Helper T cells
