Physiology Flashcards
What is the liquid that contains blood cells called?
Plasma
What are the three broad types of blood cells?
Red blood cells
White blood cells
Platelets
What is the term used for the production of blood cells?
Haemopoiesis (haematopoiesis)
What is the main site of haemopoiesis in humans?
Bone marrow
What is the main site of haemopoiesis in fetuses between months 3-7?
Spleen
From which cell are all blood cells derived?
Haematopoietic stem cell
There are few stem cells with an unremarkable morphology. True/false?
True
As blood cells progressively mature, they get bigger/smaller
Smaller
From which cells do platelets form?
Megakaryocytes
What are the main types of white blood cell?
Monocytes Lymphocytes Basophils Eosinophils Neutrophils
Eosinophils, basophils and neutrophils are all what type of white blood cell?
Granulocytes
What is the role of neutrophils?
To phagocytose invaders by killing with granule contents
Give some roles of eosinophils
Fight parasitic infections
Hypersensitivity
Basophils are thought to mediate which type of reaction?
Hypersensitivity
What causes a monocyte to become a macrophage?
When it leaves circulation and enters tissue
Why does a monocyte have a big nucleus?
To allow it to live for a long time in circulation
What are the two main types of lymphocyte?
Mature
Activated
Describe the structure of a mature lymphocyte
Small with condensed nucleus and rim of cytoplasm