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Hematology > Peripheral Blood constituents, components and functions > Flashcards

Peripheral Blood constituents, components and functions Flashcards

1
Q

What does blood carry to the body?

A 
nourishment eg. glucose
 - electrolytes e.g Na, K, Cl
– hormones
– vitamins
– antibodies
– heat
– oxygen
– WBC - defense
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2
Q

What does blood carry away from the body?

A
  • waste matter e.g urea

– carbon dioxide

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3
Q

What is blood made up of?

A

Plasma
Red blood cells (erythrocytes)
Platelets
White blood cells (leukocytes)

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4
Q

What are the types of leukocytes present in blood?

A 
lymphocytes
monocytes
eosinophils (granulocyte)
Basophils    (granulocyte)
neutrophils  (granulocyte)
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5
Q

What are the functions of red blood cells (erythrocytes)

A

Transport O2 from lungs to tissues

Transport CO2 from tissues to lungs

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6
Q

RBC - shape, avg diameter, volume

A

Shape-biconcave disc
Avg diameter- 7.2um
Volume - 88fl

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7
Q

How does the shape of the RBC related to its function?

A

The biconcave shape -

  • allows for flexibility to be able to flow through very small blood vessels
  • maximises surface area to volume ratio for gaseous exchange
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8
Q

The description of RBC containing haemoglobin

A

Tetramer - 4 polypeptide (globin) chains
Contains 4 heme groups
Heme group - protoporphyrin and Fe 2+ (ferrous)

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9
Q

What are the functions of Haemoglobin in RBC?

A
  1. transport O2 from lungs to tissues
  2. transport CO2 from tissues to lungs
    CO2 + H2O ↔ H2CO3 ↔ H+ + HCO3-
    (CA-carbonic annhydrase)

Buffers H+

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10
Q

What are the abnormalities in Haemoglobin?

A
  • synthesis of abnormal haemoglobin eg. sickle cell anaemia

- reduced rate of synthesis of normal chains - alpha and beta thalassemias

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11
Q

The Neutrophils (a leukocyte)

A
  • nucleus has 2 to 5 lobes
  • cytoplasm contains fine pink-ble or grey-blue granules
  • spend 8 to 10 hours in circulation and then to tissues
  • non specific defence- especially against bacteria
  • variety of granules - antimicrobial proteins(lysozomes, defensins), proteases, myloperoxidase
  • mediators of inflammation
  • engulf microorganisms via phagocytosis
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12
Q

The Eosinophils ( leukocyte)

A
  • the nucleus has lobes (often no more than 3)
  • deeply staining red to orange cytoplasmic granules
  • circulates in blood for four to five hours and then migrate to tissues
  • has 3 types of granules(specific, primary, small dense)
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13
Q

The Specific Granules of Eosinophils

A
  • potent cytotoxic proteins-major basic protein, eosinophil peroxidase
  • predominant type of granule in eosinophils
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14
Q

What do Eosinophils do ?

A
  • defense against parasitic infections
  • modulation of type 1 hypersensitivity rxns
  • potential to damage to host tissue
  • limited phagocytic and bactericidal capabilities
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15
Q

The Basophils (leukocyte)

A

. the nucleus usually has 2 lobes
. contains many cytoplasmic granules that stain light to dark purple
. modulation of hypersensitivity/ immune mediated inflammatory rxns-via release of mediators
. type 1 hypersensitivity rxns, tumour cytotoxicity, rejection of parasites
. granule contents - histamine, serotonin, prostaglandins, leukotrienes

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16
Q

The lymphocyte (leukocyte)

A

. round or slightly indented nucleus; thin rim of light blue cytoplasm
. role in specific/acquired immunity
. 2 main types - T and B lymphocytes

17
Q

The T lymphocyte

A
  • 40-80% of blood lymphocytes
  • several subsets eg CD4 TH1 helper T cells
    CD4 TH2 helper T cells
    cytotoxic CD8 + T cells (CTLs)
18
Q

The B lymphocyte

A

role in humoral immunity (antibody mediated)

differentiate into plasma cells

19
Q

The Monocyte (leukocyte)

A
  • circulate up to 2 days in blood then tissue then mature then actively phagocytic macrophages
  • usually the largest leukocytes in blood
  • variable shape of nucleus
  • abundant cytoplasm that stains bluish-grey
  • sometimes the cytoplasm contains vacuoles that cause foamy/ground glass appearance to cytoplasm
20
Q

The Monocyte

Marophage function

A
  • Major role in phagocytosis
  • removal and processing of aged red blood cells, dead/necrotic tissue, foreign material
  • defence and elimination of microorganisms - especially fungi and intracellular organisms such as Mycobacterium
  • involved in the immune response - take part in antigen processing and presentation
  • initiation of inflammatory process
21
Q

The Platelets

thrombocytes

A
  • small anuclear cytoplasmic fragments derived from megakaryocytes
  • very small, discoid in shape, fine reddish granules
  • primary role: hemostasis (arrest of bleeding) and repair of vascular damage
  • Optimal hemostasis - adequate numbers of functionally normal platelets
  • Issue - bleeding problems - cause (decrease in blood platelet count thrombocytopenia, abnormality in platelet function thrombopathy)
22
Q

The Plasma

What is plasma

A
  • fluid component of unclotted blood

- pale yellow solution containing electrolytes, proteins, small inorganic molecules

23
Q

The Serum

A

Clear yellow liquid obtained after blood clots

contains some substances found in plasma except coagulation factors

24
Q

Plasma Electrolytes

A
  • Na+ (major cation)
  • K+ Ca2+ Mg2+ Fe2+ (in lower conc)
  • Cl- and HCO3- (major anions)
25
Q

The plasma proteins

A
  • large number of different properties
  • 4 distinct families
    . proteins involved in hemostasis
    . Immunoglobins
    . complement system
    carrier/transport proteins
26
Q

The Proteins involved in hemostasis

A
  • coagulation factors- involved in formation of solid fibrin clot
  • natural inhibitors of blood coagulation
    • prevent inappropriate clot formation or excessive
      coagulation
    • deficiencies- thromboembolic disease
    • antithrombin III, protein C&S, tissue factor pathway
      inhibitor, heparin cofactor II
  • proteins of fibrinolytic system (involved in degradation and dissolution of formed fibrin)
  • T-PA ( tissue plasminogen activator), plasminogen, plasmin-stimulate fibrinolysis
  • fibrinolytic inhibitors eg alpha2 - antiplasmin, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1)- control/inhibit fibrinolysis
27
Q

Plasma Proteins

The Immunoglobulins

A
  • antibody molecules

- 5 different classes - IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, IgM

28
Q

The Plasma Proteins

Complement System

A
  • family of plasma proteins
  • inflammation and immunity against microbial infections
  • circulate as zymogens
  • 9 major components : C1 to C9
  • lysis of bacteria or infected cells (C5 - C9)
  • opsonise (coat) bacteria or cells then phagocytosis (C3b)
  • chemoattractants (C3a, C4a, C5a)
29
Q

The Plasma Proteins

Carrier/Transport Proteins

A
  • transport system for nutrients and waste products
  • eg. transferrin - iron
    haptoglobin - Hgb
    albumin - non specific binder
30
Q

Blood Banking

A
  • collection, separation and storage of blood
  • obtained from blood donations
  • blood separated into various components and used according to needs of the patient
  • great need for blood/ blood components in hospitals and emergency treatment facilities

Hematology (2 decks)

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