L5 and L6 The Blood Flashcards
What is ‘haematocrit’?
The ratio of the volume of red blood cells to the total volume of blood
Which two types of stem cell are involved in blood cell formation?
Myeloid stem cells (platelets, RBCs, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils)
Lymphoid stem cells (lymphocytes)
Myeloid stem cells differentiate into what cell type?
Progenitor cells
Lymphoid stem cells differentiate into what cell type?
Precursor cells
True or false: Precursor cells cannot reproduce
False. Precursor cells develop into the formed elements of blood over several divisions.
Progenitor cells cannot reproduce, they are committed to forming their designated cell type (colony forming unit, CFU)
Erythropoietin regulates the formation of which cell type(s)? Where is it released?
Red blood cells (erythrocytes)
Kidney
Thrombopoietin regulates the formation of which cell type(s)? Where is it released?
Platelets (thrombocytes)
Liver
Cytokines and interleukins regulate the formation of which cell type(s)?
White blood cells
If a patient has kidney damage, production of which cell type may be reduced?
Red blood cells (erythrocytes), as erythropoietin is produced by the kidneys.
If a patient has liver damage, production of which cell type may be reduced?
Platelets (thrombocytes), as thrombopoietin is produced by the liver.
How are haemopoietic growth factors used in medicine?
Erythropoietin given to patients with kidney disease.
Various factors given after chemotherapy.
Thrombopoietin used to treat clotting disorders.
How might kidney failure affect blood cell formation, what will the physiological effects of this be?
Reduced formation of erythrocytes, leading to less oxygen being carried, anaemia
What will be the consequence of lowered TPO production?
Lower numbers of platelets, poor clotting
What is the main difference between red and yellow bone marrow?
RBM is vascularised, full of pluripotent stem cells, produces blood cells. Yellow is avascular, full of fat.
How does lymph differ from blood?
Lymph has no RBC, no globular proteins, and is in the lymphatic system, not the blood vessels
What three gases can bind to red blood cells?
Oxygen
Carbon Dioxide
Nitric Oxide
Which enzyme is present on red blood cells and involves the conversion of CO2 carbonic acid?
Carbonic Anhydrase
Produces carbonic acid (H2CO3) from CO2 and water.
Carbonic acid dissociates into bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) which are key in buffer control and CO2 transport.
Damaged RBC’s are processed by which white blood cell?
Macrophages found in the spleen, liver or red bone marrow.
Damaged RBC’s are phagoocytosed by macrophages (in spleen, liver, red bone marrow) where they are broken down into which components?
- Globin (further broken down into amino acids)
2. Heme (iron is removed and sent to liver, biliverdin is converted to bilirubin and sent to liver)
Free iron is bad for the body. How is harm avoided during transport of iron?
Iron is bound to transferrin for transport in the plasma
In what form is iron stored in the liver?
Ferritin
After being formed from biliverdin, what is the journey taken by bilirubin?
It leaves the macrophage and is transferred to the liver, and then from the liver to the small intestine in bile.
In the small intestine, bacteria converts bilirubin to urobilinogen. Some of this is absorbed and transported to the kidneys where it is excreted in the urine (urobilin). The rest remains in the GI tract and is converted to stercobilin in the large intestine, which is excreted in faeces.
Why is biliverdin converted into bilirubin?
Biliverdin is toxic, bilirubin is safe
Iron stored in the kidney is transported to the bone marrow. What happens to iron in the bone marrow?
Combined with globin, vitamin B12 and erythropoietin as part of erythropoiesis - new RBC’s formed.
Which organs can be damaged by toxic iron overload?
Pituitary, adrenals, liver, testes, ovaries, pancreas, heart, thyroid and parathyroid
RBC production starts in the red bone marrow with the precursor cell type __?__
Pro-erythroblast
Which cell type divides several times to produce cell which make haemoglobin?
Pro-erythroblasts
__1__ eventually differentiate into __2__, which eject their nuclei.
1) Pro-erythrocytes
2) reticulocytes
What can be a consequence if erythropoiesis doesn’t keep up with demand?
Hypoxia
What can cause underactivity of erythropoiesis?
Anaemia, dietary deficiencies, circulatory problems
What is injected to stimulate erythropoiesis?
Epoetin alfa (a form of human erythropoietin)
Why do many athletes train in places like Kenya?
High altitude = less oxygen = induced erythropoietin = more red blood cells = more oxygen-carrying capacity = better athlete
What is the Bohr effect?
Hydrogen ions (H+) reduce haemoglobin affinity for O2 by altering the haemoglobin structure so that it binds less easily with O2. When tissue pH is reduced (i.e. a rise in H+), O2 dissociates more rapidly from haemoglobin so that the O2 is unloaded to the tissues needing it.
What will the consequence of a lack of vitamin B12 be?
Erythroblasts require vitamin B12 for division and proliferation. Deficiency in B12 can lead to erythroblast apoptosis, causing anaemia due to ineffective erythropoiesis.
What effect will the accumulation of CO2 from metabolism have on the the ability of haemoglobin to carry oxygen?
[Bohr effect]
High levels of CO2 increases pH, altering haemoglobin so that it binds less easily with O2. As a result, the transported O2 is unloaded.
What effect will the accumulation of CO2 from metabolism have on the the ability of haemoglobin to carry oxygen?
[Bohr effect]
High levels of CO2 increases pH, altering haemoglobin so that it binds less easily with O2. As a result, the transported O2 is unloaded.
Which are the granular leukocytes?
Neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil
Which are the agranular leukocytes?
Lymphocytes, monocytes
Which of the leukocytes are non-specific?
Granular (neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil) and monocytes.
These are the ‘first responders’ that hold the fort until lymphocytes arrive.
How do eosinophil and basophil work together?
Basophil secrete heparin, histamine and serotonin as part of an allergic reaction. This opens the vessels to get as much fluid and lymphocytes to the site as possible.
Eosinophil release histaminase (histamine antagonist) to counteract and control the basophil response.
True or false, monocytes are macrophages that have left the blood and migrated into tissues.
False. It’s the other way around
True or false: Mast cells are basophils which have migrated to tissue
True
Which leukocyte dilates blood vessels and induces inflammation through release of heparin and histamines?
Mast cell (basophil in tissue)
True or false: mast cells are involved in wound healing
True.
In addition to allergic reactions, mast cells are involved in wound healing and defense against pathogens.
Which leukocyte is a phagocytic cell that consumes foreign pathogens and cancer cells?
Macrophage (monocyte in tissue)
Which leukocyte differentiates into dendritic cells?
Monocytes
Also differentiate into macrophages