Structure and function of blood

Question 1

Principle sites of haematopoiesis in the foetus

Answer 1

Yolk sac first couple months

Then liver/spleen

Question 2

Main sites of haematopoiesis in adult

Answer 2

Marrow of sternum, vertebrae, pelvis, femur, humerus

Question 3

Two main cell lineages arising from haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs)

Answer 3

Common lymphoid progenitor- gives rise to lymphocytes

Common myeloid progenitor- gives rise to everything else

Question 4

Erythrocytes and platelets arise from…

Answer 4

Megakaryocyte/erythroid progenitor

Question 5

Granulocytes and macrophages arise from…

Answer 5

Granulocyte/macrophage progenitor

Question 6

What process in megakaryocytes gives rise to platelets?

Answer 6

‘Budding’

Question 7

Structure of neutrophils

Answer 7

Neutral staining; segmented nucleus

Question 8

Function of neutrophils (2)

Answer 8

Phagocytose opsonized microbes and kill with granule contents; attract other immune cells

Question 9

Function of eosinophils (2)

Answer 9

Fight parasitic infections;

Involved in hypersensitivity reactions e.g. atopic rhinitis

Question 10

Infrequent in circulation; circulating version of mast cell

Answer 10

Basophils

Question 11

Circulate for a week, enter tissue and become macrophages

Answer 11

Monocytes

Question 12

Main roles of macrophages (2)

Answer 12

Killing by phagocytosis

Antigen presentation to lymphocytes

Question 13

Differences between normal and “activated” lymphocytes (2)

Answer 13

Activated are:

1. larger
2. more “open” chromatin

Question 14

What does the presence of atypical lymphocytes suggest?

Answer 14

Intercurrent viral infection