SFP: Histology of Peripheral Blood

Question 1

Specify the formed elements in blood

Answer 1

Erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets

Question 2

What is the ground substance in blood?

Answer 2

Plasma

Question 3

What is hematocrit?

Answer 3

The percentage by volume of packed erythrocytes in a sample following centrifuging.

Question 4

What is found in the buffy coat?

Answer 4

Leukocytes and platelets.

Question 5

Describe the difference between plasma and serum.

Answer 5

Serum is plasma without fibrinogen

Question 6

Describe the composition of plasma

Answer 6

92% water and 7-8% plasma proteins, and solutes. Solutes include electrolytes, gases, nutrients, and metabolic products.

Question 7

Coagulation of blood yields…

Answer 7

A clot and serum

Question 8

What are the main components in clot formation

Answer 8

Fibrin, erythrocytes, and platelets

Question 9

Name the plasma proteins from largest to smallest

Answer 9

Gamma, beta, a2, a1, albumin

Question 10

Albumin makes up around ___% of plasma, and globulins make up around ___%

Answer 10

58, 37

Question 11

Describe the structure of erythrocytes and specify their main functions.

Answer 11

They’re biconcave discs that do not have nuclei, mitochondria, or other organelles. Plasma proteins are coupled to the cytoskeleton, allowing the cell to stretch and deform to allow them to pass through capillaries. They have a high surface to volume ratio that allows for exchange of gases across the plasma membrane.

Question 12

What is spectrin?

Answer 12

A cytoskeletal protein that gives RBCs their flexibility

Question 13

What are rouleaux? What is their function?

Answer 13

A stack of erythrocytes; this formation allows them to pass single file through capillaries

Question 14

Describe the types of hemoglobin expressed at different stages of development.

Answer 14

Alpha: found in a fetus as well as adults

Beta: found in adults

Delta: seen some in adults, but typically not as much and alpha and beta

Gamma: fetal hemoglobin; declines after birth

Question 15

Describe poikilocytosis and anisocytosis

Answer 15

RBC abnormalities in shape and size respectfully

Question 16

What is carbonic anhydrase?

Answer 16

Enzyme in the cytoplasm that catalyzes the conversions between CO2 and HCO3

Question 17

Name the granulocytes

Answer 17

Neutrophils, eiosinophils, basophils

Question 18

Name the agranulocytes

Answer 18

Monocytes and lymphocytes

Question 19

Describe the structure of granular and agranular leukocytes and their corresponding functions.

Answer 19

Granulocytes are often polymorphonuclear and primary granules aka lymphocytes. Agranulocytes have few granules.

Question 20

What is a barr body?

Answer 20

The inactive X chromosome in females visible as an appendage of a nuclear lobe in a neutrophil

Question 21

Distinguish between primary and secondary granules in neutrophils.

Answer 21

Primary granules are large and contain lysosomal proteases and other proteins. secondary granules are much smaller and contain various proteases and enzymes. Primary granules stain purple, while secondary granules are responsible for the salmon color of the cytoplasm when the neutrophil is stained

Question 22

What are the main functions of neutrophils?

Answer 22

-Inflammatory responses via secretion of cytokines and chemokines

-Utilizing NADPH oxidase for the respiratory burst in response to infectious agents.

Question 23

Where are neutrophils formed?

Answer 23

In the bone marrow

Question 24

24. What kind of nucleus is seen in eosinophils?

Answer 24

Bilobed

Question 25

Describe primary and secondary granules in eosinophils

Answer 25

The primary granules are fewer in number and less prominent than the specific granules. The primaries function as lysosomes. The secondaries contain a crystalline core composed of major basic protein and contain peroxidase, phosphatase, lipase, and ECP

Question 26

What are the functions of eosinophils?

Answer 26

Involved in fighting infections and allergic reactions.

Question 27

Describe primary and secondary granules in basophils

Answer 27

The primary granules are few in number and function as lysosomes, while the secondary granules are quite large and prominent.

Question 28

What are the functions of basophils?

Answer 28

They function like mast cells and secrete heparin and histamine in response to antigens and allergens

Question 29

Describe the structure of lymphocytes

Answer 29

They have a large nucleus that is spherical with condensed chromatin that occupies most of the volume of the cell. They have a few primary granules, but no specific granules.

Question 30

Describe the structure and function of monocytes

Answer 30

They have a large c-shaped nucleus. They have a basophilic cytoplasm with visible vacuoles. they have some primary but no specific granules. They travel in the blood and become macrophages

Question 31

Know the relative percentages of leukocytes in the blood of normal adults.

Answer 31

Neutrophils: 54-65%
Eosinophils: 1-3%
Basophils: less than 1%
Lymphocytes: 25-33%
Monocytes: 3-7%

Question 32

Describe the structure and function of platelets.

Answer 32

They’re membrane bound cell fragments with no nucleus. They’re important in clotting. They contain a granulomere (stains heavily) and a hyalomere (clear ring around the granulomere that doesn’t stain much).

Question 33

What are the elements in granulomeres? Hyalomeres?

Answer 33

Granulomere: alpha granules, delta granules, glycogen granules

Hyalomere: marginal bundle, open canalicular system, ER, glycocalyx