Red Blood Cells

Flashcards based on some slides on Red Blood Cells. Other flashcards for White Blood Cells, Platelets, and a combination of all three can be found on my profile.

Red blood cells

Blood cells that carry oxygen and nutrients throughout the body; uses structure to grab iron and oxygen for transport

Shaped as a biconcave disc at 5 million per cc and no nuclei

White blood cells

Blood cells with an immune function

Splenomegaly

Enlargement of the spleen

Causes:

• Leukemia

• Mononucleosis (viral)

• Sickle cell disease

• Beta thalassemia

• Malaria

• Thrombocytopenia

Spleen functions

• Blood filtration

• RBC and iron recyclation

• Antibody production

Hypochromia

The loss of color usually with pale/less RBCs

Phlebotomist

Person trained to draw blood from a patient

Coney’s anemia (beta thalassemia)

An recessive inherited disorder inferfering with the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, leading to hypochromia (requires regular transfusions)

Blood components

• Cells (RBCs, WBCs, platelets) at 45%

• Plasma (water, protein, amino acids) at 55%

Centrifuge

Device that spins blood samples to allow cells to settle to determine percentages

Hematocrit

The percentage of blood and plasma; usually at 45-55 balance

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells

Leukocytes

White blood cells

Thrombocytes

Platelets

Hemoglobin

A protein that contains iron to transport oxygen

Iron-deficient anemia

Anemia caused by a low amount of iron

Hematopoiesis

The formation of blood cells within the bone marrow

Erythropoietin

A hormone that increases red blood cell levels, sometimes used as a performance-enhancing drug

Oxyhemoglobin

Hemoglobin with more oxygen; appears bright red

Deoxyhemoglobin

Hemoglobin with less oxygen; appears dark red

Veins

Vessels which return blood to heart

Arteries

Vessels which send blood to tissues from heart

Sickle cell disease

Genetically recessive disorder with abnormally-shaped RBCs; caused by DNA mutation with incorrect hemoglobin formation

Symptoms include splenomegaly, fatigue, pain, strokes, shortness of breath