Week 1: Cellular Components of Blood Flashcards
What are the 4 main bodily fluids?
Intracellular, Interstitial, Blood and Lymph
Approximately how much blood do adults have and which gender has more?
5 litres
Males have more than females
Average range (4-6)
What are the functions of the blood?
Transportation - Oxygen and Nutrient supply, Removal of Waste products, Messenger functions
Regulation - regulation of body temperature, maintain pH (7.35-7.45), hydraulic function - to maintain tissue health - colloidal osmotic pressure
What is the composition of blood?
Liquid Component - 55% - Plasma
Formed Elements - 45% - RBCs, WBCs, Platelets
What is the composition of plasma?
92% Water, 7% Plasma Proteins, 1% other substances (nutrients and stuff)
What is serum?
Plasma devoid of clotting factors ( achieved by drawing blood in the absence of an anti-coagulant)
Composition of Blood - formed elements?
99% RBC
<1% WBC and platelets
What is the name of the process of formation of red blood cells?
Haematopoiesis
What is the major site of haematopoiesis post birth?
Bone Marrow
What environment is blood cell production in the bone marrow controlled in?
Stromal cells and 3D anatomy of bone marrow
Where do WBC migrate after red blood cell formation?
Peripheral Tissue and lymphoid organs
What are the stages of haematopoiesis?
What blood cells also develop in the tissues as well as in the bloodstream?
Mast cells, macrophages and dendritic cells
What is erythropoiesis?
The process of red blood cell formation which occurs in the bone marrow
What regulates erythropoeisis?
The hormone erythropoietin (EPO) released by kidney cells in response to detection of hypoxia by the kidneys. Erythropoiesis is regulated by EPO binding to the erythropoietin receptor on progenitor cells. EPO receptor is a kinase linked receptor.
What is a haem molecule composed of?
Porphryin ring linked to a molecule of iron as a cofactor.
How does the biconcave of RBCs help?
Optimum O2 transfer
Flexibility for travel throughout small capillaries
How are red blood cells get removed when they are old?
Removed by Macrophages of the spleen and haemoglobin is separated into haem and globin. Haem is separated into iron and porphyrin ring.
Iron is transported to BM via transferrin for new RBC production. Porphyrin excreted as bilirubin in urine or biliverdin in faeces.
What are Thrombocytes?
Also called Platelets and main role is haemostasis which initiate blood clotting at site of injury
30% of platelets stored in spleen
Just to know it
What is the life span of platelets?
7-10 days
How many platelets can 1 megakaryocyte generate ?
5000 platelets because megakaryocyte can grow up to 64n.
What is thrombopoiesis?
The formation of platelets
What regulates thrombopoeisis?
Platelet production is regulated by thrombopoietin (TPO) produced by the liver and kidney
What else can platelets do other than blood clotting?
Secrete components to aid in repair of vasculature such as the cytokine: Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)
What is the function of leukocytes?
They mediate the protective effects of blood through the generation of the inflammatory process.
What are 2 arms of the immune system?
Neutrophils function
Phagocytic - Ingest and kill pathogens debris and damaged cells. Initiate inflammatory process
18Hr lifespan
Eosinophil function
Phagocytic - protection against helminths(parasitic worms)
2-5 days lifespan
Basophil function
Involved in allergic Reactions
1-2days lifespan
Monocyte function
Phagocytic and differentiate to become macrophages within tissue
1-7 days lifespan
Natural Killer Cell
Killing of virally infected cells
14 days lifespan
What can be used to distinguish between b and t lymphocytes?
Flow cytometry
What is the hematocrit range for male/females?
F = 37-47% M= 42-52%
What are examples of disorders of blood?
Anaemia, Myeloproliferative disorders and jaundice
