White Blood Cell Review

What are white blood cells also known as?

Leukocytes.

What is the primary function of leukocytes?

To protect the body against infection.

What are the two main types of immune systems?

Innate immune system and adaptive immune system.

What is the first line of defense against foreign invaders?

Macrophages.

Which specialized white blood cells are involved in the adaptive immune system?

B-lymphocytes and T lymphocytes.

What do B-lymphocytes and T lymphocytes do?

Attack specific antigens and maintain memory for future defensive actions.

What is the life span of white blood cells?

13-20 days.

Where do white blood cells differentiate?

In the bone marrow.

Where do white blood cells mature?

In lymph tissue.

What does the lymphatic system do?

Collect debris for disposal.

What are the major components of the lymphatic system?

Lymph nodes, spleen, thymus gland, tonsils, and Peyers patches.

What are neoplastic disorders of white blood cells?

Leukemias and lymphomas.

What do leukemias cause?

Proliferation of cancerous white blood cells.

What are lymphomas?

Solid tumors of lymphoid cells.

What do monocytes mature into?

Macrophages.

What are lymphocytes also known as?

The spies of the immune system.

After exposure to an antigen, what do lymphocytes do?

Recognize, target, and have memory for specific antigens.

What is the function of B cells?

To produce antibodies within lymph nodes.

What do B cells mature into?

Plasma cells.

What are two types of T cells?

T helper (CD4) cells and cytotoxic T cells (CD8).

What can low amounts of white blood cells indicate?

Leukemia.

What can high amounts of white blood cells indicate?

Infection.

What is the function of granulocytes?

To kill microorganisms and catabolize debris during phagocytosis.

What are the types of granulocytes?

Basophil, eosinophil, neutrophil.

Which granulocyte is the most common?

Neutrophil.

How many white blood cells are present in the body?

4,000 - 10,000 cells per microliter (uL).

What does a CBC with differential count measure?

The different types of white blood cells in the blood.

What are 'segs'?

Mature neutrophils.

What are 'bands'?

Immature neutrophils.

What does a high number of bands indicate?

A 'shift to the left,' indicating acute infection.

What do eosinophils respond to?

Allergic reactions and parasitic infections.

What do the granules of eosinophils contain?

Chemical mediators and enzymes toxic to parasites and host tissues, including histamine.

What is a common sign of an acute infection in terms of white blood cells?

An increased amount of bands produced by bone marrow.

What is innate immunity?

The body's first line of defense that is non-specific.

What is adaptive immunity?

The immune response that involves specific recognition and memory of antigens.

What does the term 'phagocytosis' refer to?

The process where cells engulf and digest microorganisms and debris.

What role do lymph nodes play in the immune system?

They filter lymph fluid and house immune cells.

What function does the spleen serve in the immune system?

It filters blood and helps fight infections.

What is an important function of the thymus gland?

It is where T cells mature.

How can you describe the adaptive immune response in terms of memory?

It endows the body with long-term immunity.

What are the two main types of T cells and their functions?

Helper T cells assist other immune cells, while cytotoxic T cells kill infected cells.

How does increased eosinophil activity manifest in the body?

It is associated with allergic reactions and responses to parasites.

What is the significance of the presence of granulocytes (neutrophils, esinophils, basophils) in blood?

They indicate the body’s response to infection or inflammation.

Increased amounts of bands in bone marrow indicate what?

A shift to the left, signaling the release of immature cells during an acute infection.

What are basophils?

A type of granulocyte that plays a role in allergic reactions and inflammatory responses, releasing histamine and other mediators.

Where do white blood cells differentiate?

In the bone marrow.

Where do T cells mature?

In the thymus gland.

What is the lifespan of B cells after they are activated?

They can live for several days to several years depending on their memory function.

What do monocytes mature into in the immune system?

They mature into macrophages.

What role do lymph nodes play in the lifecycle of lymphocytes?

They act as sites for lymphocyte activation and proliferation.

What are blast cells?

Immature cells that are actively dividing and differentiating into specific types of blood cells, such as lymphocytes.

What are neutrophils?

A type of granulocyte that is the most common white blood cell and plays a crucial role in the immune response.

What is the primary function of neutrophils?

To kill microorganisms and catabolize debris during phagocytosis.

How do neutrophils respond during an infection?

They migrate to the site of infection, ingest pathogens, and release enzymes to destroy them.

What is neutropenia?

A condition characterized by abnormally low levels of neutrophils, increasing the risk of infections.

What causes neutrophilia?

Elevated neutrophil levels, often due to infection, inflammation, stress, or certain medications.

What can prolonged high levels of neutrophils indicate?

It may indicate chronic inflammation, myeloproliferative disorders, or stress responses.

How can neutrophils be measured in a clinical setting?

Through a Complete Blood Count (CBC) with differential, which assesses the types

What is a rise in WBC above 11,000 called?

Leukocytosis.

What is a leukemoid reaction?

A leukemoid reaction is a significant increase in white blood cell count that can mimic leukemia but is typically caused by an underlying condition such as infection, inflammation, or stress.

How does a leukemoid reaction differ from leukemia?

Unlike leukemia, which involves abnormal proliferation of leukemic cells, leukemoid reactions involve the body's normal response to stress or infection and typically do not include malignant cells.

What laboratory findings are associated with leukemoid reactions?

Laboratory findings often show an elevated white blood cell count, often with a left shift (increased immature neutrophils

What are common causes of leukemoid reactions?

Common causes include severe infections, trauma, hemorrhage, or certain cancers.

What is neutrophilia?

Neutrophilia is a condition characterized by HIGH levels of neutrophils in the blood.

What can cause neutrophilia?

Common causes include bacteria infection, inflammation, SMOKING, stress, or certain medications (epi)

What laboratory findings are associated with neutrophilia?

Laboratory findings often show an elevated white blood cell count with a predominance of neutrophils.

How does neutrophilia relate to acute infections?

In response to acute infections, the body typically increases neutrophil production to help fight off pathogens.

Philia means

High amounts

penia means

low amounts

What is leukopenia?

Leukopenia is a condition characterized by abnormally low levels of white blood cells (WBCs) in the blood.

What are common causes of leukopenia?

Common causes of leukopenia include viral infections, vitamin difficiency, certain medications, bone marrow disorders, and autoimmune diseases.

How does leukopenia affect the body?

Leukopenia increases the risk of infections due to a reduced number of white blood cells available to fight off pathogens.

what does cytosis mean?

more cells

What is lymphocytosis?

Lymphocytosis is a condition characterized by an increased level of lymphocytes in the blood.

What can cause lymphocytosis?

Common causes of lymphocytosis include viral infections, chronic inflammatory conditions, and lymphoproliferative disorders.

What is lymphocytopenia?

Lymphocytopenia is a condition characterized by a reduced level of lymphocytes in the blood.

What are common causes of lymphocytopenia?

Common causes of lymphocytopenia include autoimmune diseases, viral infections, malnutrition, and certain medications.

How does lymphocytosis affect the body?

Lymphocytosis may indicate an ongoing infection or a more serious condition like a lymphoproliferative disorder, which requires further investigation.

How does lymphocytopenia affect the body's immune system?

Lymphocytopenia can weaken the immune system, increasing the risk of infections and lowering the body's ability to respond to them.

What is Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)?

MDS is a group of disorders caused by poorly formed or dysfunctional blood cells that arise from the bone marrow.

What are common symptoms of MDS?

Common symptoms include fatigue, weakness, frequent infections, and easy bruising or bleeding.

What are hematologic neoplasms?

What are risk factors for hematologic neoplasms?

Factors that increase the chances of developing blood cancers include: family history, exposure to harmful chemicals, DAMAGED DNA, being older, having certain medical conditions, infections, and unhealthy lifestyle choices like smoking and obesity.

How do hematlogic neoplasmic diseases work?

they overwhelm the bone marrow and other lymphoid tissue, which crowds and suppresses development of the other blood cells in the bone marrow

symptoms of hematologic neoplasms

• Anemia

• Leukopenia (dysfunctional WBC’s)

• Thrombocytopenia (bleeding and bruising)

• Bone pain (proliferating cancerous blood cells put pressure in marrow of bones)

• Enlarged lymph node

• Splenomegaly

What are the implications of having neutropenia?

It significantly raises the risk of infections due to a decreased number of neutrophils available to combat pathogens.

allo means

other

auto means

self

acute leukemias mean

immature cells, known as blasts.

chronic leukemias mean

mature cells

Lymphocytic leukemias means

B and/or T cell involvement

myelogenous leukemias mean

cells of myeloid origin, such as granulocytes (immature granulocytes)

What are the four main types of leukemia?

The four main types of leukemia are Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), and Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML).

What is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)?

ALL is a fast-growing type of leukemia that affects lymphoid cells and is most common in children.

What is Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)?

AML is a fast-growing type of leukemia that affects myeloid cells, typically occurring in adults.

What is Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)?

CLL is a slow-growing leukemia that primarily affects older adults and involves lymphocytes.

What is Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)?

CML is a type of leukemia that affects the myeloid cells and is characterized by the overproduction of these cells; it usually occurs in adults.