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Y3 - Haem > Physiology > Flashcards

Physiology Flashcards

1
Q

What is haematopoiesis?

A

The production of blood cells

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2
Q

What are mature blood cells produced from?

A

Precursor stem cells

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3
Q

What are stem cells?

A

Cells from the mesoderm that can self-renew, proliferate and differentiate into any type of blood cell

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4
Q

Once a stem cell has started down a lineage pathway can it go back?

A

No

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5
Q

What are the sites of haematopoiesis at birth?

A

Mainly bone marrow

Plus the liver and spleen when needed

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6
Q

What are the sites of haematopoiesis in adulthood?

A

Only the axial skeleton - skull, ribs, sternum, pelvis, proximal ends of femur

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7
Q

What are the types precursor cell that stem cells can differentiate into?

A

Common myeloid precursor

Common lymphoid precursor

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8
Q

What do common lymphoid precursors differentiate into?

A

B cells, T cells and NK cells

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9
Q

What do common myeloid precursors differentiate into?

A

Megakaryocyte/erythroid precursor - then platelets/RBC

Granulocyte/macrophage precursor - then granulocytes/macrophage

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10
Q

What are the granulocytes?

A

Basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils

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11
Q

What is the main function of red blood cells?

A

Carry oxygen

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12
Q

What is the main function of platelets?

A

Stop bleeding

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13
Q

What is the main function of white blood cells?

A

Fight infection

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14
Q

What is erythropoiesis?

A

The production of RBCs

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15
Q

What stimulates erythropoiesis?

A

Reduced oxygen carrying capacity in the blood stimulates erythropoietin production and release from the kidneys

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16
Q

What are reticulocytes?

A

The immediate precursors to red blood cells

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17
Q

What are the features of reticulocytes?

A

No nucleus
Larger than RBCs
Contain RNA - making them polychromatic

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18
Q

What are the features of mature RBCs?

A

Biconcave shape
No nucleus
No mitochondria

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19
Q

What is the consequence for RBCs having no nucleus?

A

Can’t divide or self-renew

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20
Q

What is the energy source for RBCs?

A

Glycolysis

21
Q

What is the lifespan of mature RBCs?

A

120 days

22
Q

Which organs get rid of RBCs at the end of their lifespan?

A

Spleen

Liver

23
Q

What is the structure of haemoglobin?

A

4 globin chains (2 alpha, 2 beta in HbA - adult)

Haem group made of Fe2+ and a porphyrin ring

24
Q

Why does the haem group have Fe2+ not Fe3+?

A

Oxygen does not bind to Fe3+

25
Q

What is the process of red cell destruction?

A

Aged red cells are taken up by macrophages
Red cell contents are recycled
Globing chains are recycled to amino acids
The heam group is broken down to iron and bilirubin
The bilirubin is taken to the liver and conjugated, then excreted in bile

26
Q

What benefits does glycolysis have for RBCs?

A

Prevents from oxidative damage and protects from free radicals

27
Q

What is the rate limiting enzyme in glycolysis?

A

Glucose-6-phosphate

28
Q

How do platelets form?

A

Pockets of cytoplasm ‘bud off’ from megakaryocytes

29
Q

What is the morphology of megakaryocytes?

A

Large cells with large lobulated nucleus

30
Q

What is the lifespan of platelets?

A

7-10 days

31
Q

What are the white blood cells?

A 
Neutrophils
Eosinophils
Basophils
Monocytes
Lymphocytes
32
Q

What is the morphology of neutrophils?

A

Multi-segmented nucleus
Neutral staining granules
Express myeloperoxidase

33
Q

What is the function of neutrophils?

A

Phagocytosis - kill by releasing granule contents

Recruitment of other immune cells

34
Q

What can cause neutrophilia?

A

Acute inflammation - infection, trauma, infarction
Pregnancy
Drugs - steroids

35
Q

What can cause neutropenia?

A

Aplastic anaemia
Pancytopenia
Drugs - clozapine, carbimazole

36
Q

What is the morphology of eosinophils?

A

Bi-lobed (horseshoe)

Orange/red granules

37
Q

What is the function of eosinophils?

A

Hypersensitivity

Fight against parasitic infections

38
Q

What can cause eosinophilia?

A

Churg-Strauss syndrome
Atopy
Parasitic infections
Hodgkin’s

39
Q

What is the morphology of basophils?

A

Large deep purple granules that can be so abundant they obscure the nucleus

40
Q

What is the function of basophils?

A

Uncertain
Circulating version of tissue mast cell
Mediates hypersensitivity reactions
Granules contain histamine

41
Q

What are basophils increased in?

A

CML

Polycythaemia rubra vera

42
Q

What is the morphology of monocytes?

A

Large single nucleus (kidney shaped)
Faintly staining granules
Often vacuolated (contain white circles)
Large cytoplasm

43
Q

What is the function of monocytes?

A

Circulate for a few days then enter tissues and become macrophages
As macrophages - phagocytes, antigen presentation
Attract other cells

44
Q

What are monocytes increased in?

A 
Chronic bacterial infections
SLE
RA
Lymphoma
Leukaemia
45
Q

What is the morphology of mature lymphocytes?

A

Small
Condensed nucleus
Rim of cytoplasm

46
Q

What is the morphology of activated (atypical) lymphocytes?

A

Large
Plentiful blue cytoplasm
Extend round neighbouring red cells
‘Open’ nucleus with chromatin pattern

47
Q

What is the function of lymphocytes?

A

Lots of types and functions

Coordinate response to infection

48
Q

What can cause lymphocytosis?

A

Infection
Malignancy
Hyposplenism

Y3 - Haem (9 decks)

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