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health & disease > L5 - blood cells > Flashcards

L5 - blood cells Flashcards

1
Q

learning outcomes

A
  1. main composition of blood: cells/plasma/serum
  2. how blood cells are made from bone marrow (erythrocytes, leucocytes, platelets)
  3. function of blood components
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2
Q

how much blood does the average human have?

A

5 litres

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3
Q

4 main components of blood

A
  1. blood cells
  2. plasma
  3. human plasma proteome/ proteins
  4. serum
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4
Q

how much of our blood consists of blood cells?

A

45-55%

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5
Q

what is plasma?

A

everything besides the blood cells / cell components

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6
Q

what is the human plasma proteome?

A

proteins inside plasma including albumin, immunoglobulins + clotting factors

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7
Q

what is the serum?

A

plasma without the clotting factors and fibrinogen

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8
Q

what happens if you centrifuge blood?

A

it will separate out into the erythrocytes (hematocrit) on the bottom and plasma components on the top. between the 2 there is a thin layer of WBCs and platelets

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9
Q

what are leukocytes?

A

white blood cells

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10
Q

what is the hematocrit?

A

% of blood volume composed of red blood cells

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11
Q

what does the separation of blood in leukaemia look like?

A

paler section in the middle (excessive production of white blood cells which aren’t functioning properly)

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12
Q

why do we separate out plasma from the blood?

A
  1. plasma = blood substitute to increase blood VOLUME during surgery/ after trauma. controls bleeding + helps wounds heals
  2. some drugs bind to plasma proteins at therapeutic concentrations
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13
Q

why do we separate out serum from the blood?

A
  1. serum can be used to measure the concentrations of substances inside it
  2. serum used in cosmetics
  3. serum used as a growth media for cell culture
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14
Q

3 main types of blood cells?

A
  1. erythrocytes
  2. leucocytes
  3. platelets
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15
Q

use of RBCs?

A
  • transport oxygen to body cells
  • pH buffer (keeps blood pH at 7.2-7.4)
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16
Q

types of leucocytes?

A
  1. agranulocytes
  2. granulocytes
  3. lympocytes
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17
Q

where are platelets derived from?

A

megakaryocytes (note: platelets are cell fragments)

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18
Q

what are platelets important in?

A

blood clotting

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19
Q

what is the bone marrow?

A

soft, spongy tissue in the centre of bones

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20
Q

2 types of bone marrow?

A
  1. red marrow
  2. yellow marrow
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21
Q

what is red marrow responsible for?

A

generating RBCs and leucocytes (blood cells)

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22
Q

what is yellow marrow for?

A

source of cartilage, fat and bone cells

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23
Q

what other things does bone marrow contain?

A
  • collagen
  • glucosamine
    which is important for healthy bones and joints
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24
Q

in children which bone marrow generates blood cells?

A

bone marrow of most bones

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25
Q

in adults which bone marrow generates blood cells?

A

bones of chest, base of skull, spinal vertebrae and upper sections of limb is where most blood cells are made

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26
Q

what type of stem cells are blood cells derived from?

A

hematopoietic stem cells (undifferentiated cells that can produce precursors of different blood cells)

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27
Q

how long does a RBC last?

A

about 120 days

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28
Q

how long do some neutrophils last for?

A

about 6 hours

29
Q

what symptoms do you get if bone marrow becomes damaged?

A
  1. fatigued - anaemia, not enough RBCs to carry oxygen around
  2. most susceptible to infections
  3. bleeding disorders - can’t clot
30
Q

what might damage bone marrow?

A
  1. radiation
  2. chemotherapy
  3. certain drugs
31
Q

2 types of bone marrow transplants?

A
  1. autologous
  2. allogeneic
32
Q

autologous transplants

A

your own bone marrow before it turned bad

33
Q

allogeneic transplants?

A

bone marrow from other patients

34
Q

3 key functions of blood?

A
  1. transport of oxygen, co2, nutrients, excretory products around body
  2. regulation via delivery of hormones to target sites and diversion of blood in body via homeostasis and temp regulation
  3. protection via leukocytes and clotting mechanisms
35
Q

describe rbcs

A
  1. transport o2 and co2
  2. no nucleus, can’t grow, divide, express proteins
  3. contains hb
  4. biconcave disc shaoe to increase SA:VOL for oxygen
  5. membrane polysaccharides and proteins on surface which decides you blood group
  6. can squeeze through small capillaries
36
Q

what is erythropoiesis?

A

production of RBCs.

37
Q

describe erythropoiesis (EPO)

A
  • controlled by hormone erythropoietin
  • secreted in small amounts by kidney
  • some by liver
38
Q

what triggers EPO production?

A

decreased oxygen

39
Q

things that cause decreased oxygen levels?

A
  1. high altitude (less oxygen in air to be taken into body)
  2. lung disease
  3. insufficient pumping of the heart
  4. anaemia
40
Q

what is anaemia?

A

decrease in total number of erythrocytes and/or decreased conc of Hb per RBC

41
Q

what is anaemia often caused by?

A
  1. iron or vitamin B12 deficiency
  2. failure in bone marrow production - called aplastic anaemia
  3. genetic disorders, e.g sickle cells anaemia
42
Q

what are leucocytes involved in?

A

host immunity - protecting against pathogens

43
Q

what is the innate immune system?

A

first line of defence against pathogens mediated by myeloid cells / granulocytes

44
Q

what is the adaptive immune system?

A
  1. highly specific to certain pathogens (so antigen specific)
  2. longer lasting protection
  3. mediated by lymphocytes
45
Q

what are myeloid cells?

A
  1. monocytes/macrophages or neutrophils
  2. eosinophils
  3. basophils / mast cells
46
Q

describe monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils?

A
  • phagocytic cells
  • called monocytes in blood
  • these differentiate into macrophages when they migrate out into tissues
  • neutrophils: cells that engluf pathogens etc
  • apart of innate immunity
47
Q

describe eosinophils?

A
  • important in defence to parasites
  • key mediators in asthma
48
Q

describe basophils and mast cells

A
  • immune cells that contain histamine, pathogensis of allergic reactions
  • involved in inflammation
49
Q

what are agranulocytes?

A

monocytes and macrophages

50
Q

what are macrophages?

A
  • phagocytic cells that ENGULF bacteria + cell debris
  • release inflammatory mediators called cytokines
  • antigen presenting cells to T cells
51
Q

what are granulocytes?

A
  • neutrophils
  • basophils
  • eosinophils

they are densely stained granules in cytoplasm. can be called polymorphonuclear leukocytes due to nucleus shape

52
Q

what do lymphocytes contain?

A
  • have large nucleus
  • contain lysosomal enzymes
53
Q

examples of lymphocytes?

A
  1. b cell and plasma cell
  2. t helper cells
  3. natural killer (NK) cells/ cytotoxic T cells
54
Q

what are b cell and plasma cells involved in?

A

antibody production

55
Q

what do t helper cells do?

A

provide activation stimulus to other immune cells

56
Q

what are natural killer cells aka cytotoxic t cells?

A

kill virally infected + cancer cells

57
Q

why may someone have too little leucocytes?

A

HIV or chemotherapy

58
Q

what happens to someone when they have too few leucocytes?

A

become immunosuppressed/ immunocompromised and susceptible to opportunistic infections

59
Q

what happens if you have too much leucocyte activation?

A
  • the immune system is actively inappropriately
  • need immunosuppressive drugs
60
Q

examples of excessive leucocyte activation

A
  • allergies
  • inflammatory conditions
  • autoimmunity
61
Q

give examples of medical conditions where the manipulation of immune systems is needed

A

cancer, transplants, vaccinations

62
Q

another name for platelets

A

thrombocytes

63
Q

describe platelets

A
  • no nucleus
  • cell fragment
  • for clotting
  • produced from bone marrow from the progenitor cells leading to megakaryocytes
64
Q

what are megakaryocytes?

A

cells with multi lobed nucleus

65
Q

what is platelet production regulated by?

A

thrombopoietin, TPO (hormone produced by liver that stimulates the production)

66
Q

what does TPO do?

A

TPO binds to platelets in circulation.

if platelet counts are normal the free TPO level is low.

if platelet count is low then free TPO level in serum is high so platelet production is stimulated

67
Q

what is thromobocytopenic purpura?

A

low platelet counts that lead to excessive bleeding

68
Q

what can reduce the risk of blood clots in thromboembolic diseases?

A

anti platelet drugs (aspirin + clopidogrel)

69
Q

what are anti platelet drugs used to treat?

A
  • myocardial infarction
  • deep vein thrombosis
  • ischaemic stroke

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