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