Blood

A specialized connective tissue consisting of cells and fluid extracellular material.

Blood

A distributing vehicle, transporting O2, CO2, metabolites, hormones, and other substances to cells throughout the body.

Plasma

The straw-colored, translucent, slightly viscous supernaturant comprising 55% at the top half of the centrifugation tube.

Buffy Coat

A thin gray-white layer between the plasma and the hematocrit.

Blood

This participates in heat distribution, the regulation of body temperature, and the maintenance of acid-base and osmotic balance.

Plasma

This is an aqueous solution containing substances of low or high molecular weight that make up 7% of its volume.

Electrolytes

The dissolved components seen in the plasma that includes nutrients, respiratory gases, nitrogenous waste products, hormones and inorganic ions.

Albumin

The most abundant plasma protein that is made in the liver and serves primarily to maintain the osmotic pressure of the blood.

Globulins (alpha and beta)

It is made by the liver and other cells that include transferrin and other transport factors; fibronectin; prothrombin; and other coagulation factors; lipoproteins and other proteins entering blood from tissues.

Immunoglobulins (antibodies or y-globulins)

This is secreted by plasma cells in many locations.

Fibrinogen

The largest plasma protein (340kD) that is also made in the liver, which, during clotting, polymerizes as insoluble, cross-linked fibers of fibrin that block blood loss from small vessels.

Erythrocytes (RBC)

These cells are terminally differentiated structures lacking nuclei and completely filled with the oxygen carrying protein hemoglobin.

Erythrocytes

The only blood cells whose function does not require them to leave the vasculature.

Leukocytes (WBC)

These cells leave the blood and migrate to the tissues where the become functional and perform various activities related to immunity.

Leukocytes (WBC)

These cells are rather spherical while suspended in blood plasma, but they become amoeboid and motile after leaving the blood vessels and invading the tissues.

Granulocytes

These cells possess two major types of abundant granules: lysosomes (azurophilic granules) and specific granules.

Granulocytes

Cells that have polymorphic nuclei with two or more distinct lobes and include the neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils.

Agranulocytes

These cells lack specific granules that has a spherical or indented nucleus but not lobulated. This group includes the lymphocytes and monocytes.

Neutrophils

Cells with 3-5 lobes of nucleus.

Neutrophils

These cells kill and phagocytose bacteria.

Lymphocytes

Cells that kill helminthic and other parasites and modulate local inflammation.

Lymphocytes

Cells with a bilobed nucleus.

Basophils

Cells with a bilobed or S-shaped nucleus.

Basophils

Cells that modulate inflammation and release histamine during allergy.

Lymphocytes

Cells having rather spherical nucleus.

Lymphocytes

Effector and regulatory cells for adaptive immunity.

Monocytes

Cells that are the precursor of macrophages and other mononuclear phagocytic cells.

Monocytes

Cells having indented or C-shaped nucleus.

Thrombocytes (Platelets)

These are very small non-nucleated, membrane-bound cell fragments only 2-4 μm in diameter.

Thrombocytes

These originate by separation from the ends of cytoplasmic processes extending from giant polyploid bone marrow.

Megakaryocyte

The biggest cell in the bone marrow.

Thrombocytes

These cells promote blood clotting and help repair minor tears or leaks in the walls of small blood vessels, preventing loss of blood from the microvasculature. This have a life span of about 10 days.

Diapedesis

The process by which immune cells move from blood vessels into surrounding tissue.