Structure, Function and Staining Characteristics of Blood Cells

Question 1

RBCs ref range (M)

Answer 1

4.5 - 5.5 ^10*12 / L

Question 2

RBCs ref range (F)

Answer 2

3.8 - 4.8 ^10*12/L

Question 3

RBC life span

Answer 3

120 days

Question 4

What colour are RBCs when stained on a blood film?

Answer 4

Salmon pink

Question 5

Biconcave disc shape functions

Answer 5

1. Makes cell very flexible for passing through cappillaries and certain organs such as the spleen
2. Ensures max surface area to pick up O2 in lungs

Question 6

What is the red cell precursor

Answer 6

Erythroblast, is derived from the haemopoietic stem cell

Question 8

Platelet precursor cell

Answer 8

Megakaryocyte, which is derived from haemopoietic stem cell

Question 10

What colour are Plts in stained blood film

Answer 10

Pale blue

Question 11

Platelet ref range

Answer 11

150-400 ^10*9/L in healthy adults

Question 12

What do white cells derive from

Answer 12

Immature precursor cells which they themselves originate from haemopoietic stem cell in bone marrow

Question 13

Ref range for white cells

Answer 13

4 - 10 ^10*9/L

Question 15

Which white cells are known as granulocytes

Answer 15

1. Neutrophils
2. Eosinophils
3. Basophils

Question 16

What kind of nucleus do granulocytes have

Answer 16

Lobed nucleus

Question 17

Which white cells are referred to as mononuclear cells

Answer 17

1. Lymphocytes
2. Monocytes

Question 18

How many lobes in neutrophil nucleus

Answer 18

2 - 5 lobes

Question 19

What colour do the cytoplasm and granules of neutrophil stain

Answer 19

The cytoplasm stains pale blue and the granules stain lilac

Question 20

What do the granules in neutrophils contain?

Answer 20

enzymes and proteins that aid in killing of bacteria

Question 21

Absolute Neutrophil count

Answer 21

2.0 - 7.0 ^10*9/L

Question 22

Function of neutrophils

Answer 22

Act as phagocytes. In an infection they digest and kill bacteria and microbes

Question 23

What does elevated neutrophil levels indicate

Answer 23

Bacterial infection

Question 24

What colour do they eosinophil granules stain

Answer 24

Orange/pink

Question 25

What does the granules of an eosinophil being eosinophilic mean?

Answer 25

They take up the acidic dye eosin

Question 26

Eosinophil functions

Answer 26

Phagocytic: can kill ingested organisms, important role in bodies defense against parasites. Role in allergic reactions.

Question 27

What colour do the granules of basophils stain

Answer 27

Purple

Question 28

What does the granules of a basophil being basophilic mean

Answer 28

They take up the basic componenet (methylene blue) of the stain

Question 29

What do basophil cells also contain?

Answer 29

Heparin and Histamine

Question 29

What colour does the cytoplasm of a lymphocyte stain

Answer 29

Pale blue

Question 30

What cells are lymphocytes produced by and where

Answer 30

Produced by lymphoid precursor cells in the bone marrow

Question 31

Where do t-lymphocytes mature

Answer 31

In the thymus

Question 31

Function of lymphocytes

Answer 31

Important in adaptive immune response

Question 32

What does cytoplasm of monocytes contain

Answer 32

1. a few basophilic staining granules
2. vacuoles

Question 33

Functions of monocytes

Answer 33

1. Fight bacterial and fungal infections
2. Are phagocytic
3. Secrete chemical messengers called cytokines