White cells Flashcards
What are the precursors to white cells?
Multipotent haemopoeitic stem cells which give rise to a myeloblast which can form granulocytes and monocytes
What are the ganulocytes?
Neutrophils, Basophils and Eosinophils
What is the function of a neutrophil?
To phagocytose and kill micro-organisms
What is the function of an eosinophil?
To defend against parasitic attacks
What is the function of a basophil?
Contains stores of histmaine and heparin as well as proteolytic enzymes. They are involved in immune and inflammatory responses
What is the function of monocytes?
Present antigens to lymphoid
Migrate to tissues where they develop into macrophages and other specialised cells with a phagocytic or scavenging function
They also store and release iron
What do lymphoid stem cells produce?
T cells, B cells and Natural Killer cells (NK)
What is the function of B lymphocytes?
Mature into plasma cells which produce antibodies
What is the function of T cells?
Involved in cell mediated response
What is the function of NK cells?
Involved in the innate immune system - can kill tumour cells and virus-infected cells
What is leucocytosis?
Too many white cells, can be:
- neutrophilia
- lymphocytosis
- monocytosis
- eosinophilia
- basophilia
What is leucopenia?
Reduction in total number of white blood cells, can be:
- neutropenia
- lymphopenia
What can cause neutrophilia?
Infection (particularly bacterial infection), inflammation, infarction or other tissue damage, myeloproliferative neoplasms (chronic myeloid leukaemia)
Also can occur in pregnacny and following exercise adn after administration of corticosteroids
what can cause monocytosis?
Infection or chronic inflammation or some types of leukaemia
What do megakaryocytes form?
Platelets
