Erythrocytes Cont. (2)

phagocytosis

ingestion by a cell

site of phagocytosis

spleen destroys old RBCs

changes to cell membrane permeability

membrane becomes more permeable, more osmotic swelling, lyses RBCs

cellular fragmentation

cells fragment due to defect, damage or partial phagocytosis

Hemoglobin dust

gets smaller and smaller and fragments over time

reticuloendothelial system is a

recycling center for RBCs

RES is a network of

specialized cells in spleen, can be in liver or yellow bone marrow

RES network of cells are responsible for

phagocytosis of old RBCs and recycling components of RBCs for future production

components are recycled by

storing iron, globin-protein is broken down into amino acids, protoporphryn is broken down into biliverdin

biliverdin is a precursor of

bilirubin

biliverdin has a

green/yellow pigment

jaundice or icteric patient could have

liver ds or hemolytic anemia

anisocytosis

change in size

microcytic

smaller than normal

macrocytic

larger than normal

normocytic

normal size

anisocytosis can be caused by

ds process

anisocytosis is normal in

cattle and neonates

normochromic

normal in color

hypochromic

lacking color which means hemoglobin

hyperchromic

darker in color, usually malignant or cancerous cells

polychromic

variation in color, doesn’t have full hemoglobin content

poikilocytosis

variation in shape