Anatomy and Physiology Blood - RBC and WBC

What is the function of blood?

Blood transports substances and maintains homeostasis in the body

What is blood and what are the two basic components of it?

blood is a type of connective tissue, it is composed of cells and plasma

What are examples of the cells in blood and what percentage of blood does it make up?

RBCs, WBCs, platelets, around 45%

What are examples of plasma in blood and what percentage does it make up?

water, proteins, amino acids, around 55%

What is a hematocrit?

the ratio of the volume of red blood cells to the total volume of blood, to see if you have the ratio of 45% RBC

How is a hematocrit determined?

blood is placed in a centrifuge. Heavier cells settle to the bottom, so RBC are at the bottom.

What are the three types of blood cells?

erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes (platelet)

What are erythrocytes?

red blood cells

What are leukocytes?

white blood cells

What are thrombocytes?

platelets

What is the shape of RBCs?

biconcave discs

What is RBCC and what is its value in a drop of blood?

Red blood cell count, 5 million/cubic mm

Do RBC have a nucleus?

No, they are anucleate

Hematopoiesis

The formation of blood cells, occurs in red bone marrow

How are old blood cells destroyed?

the liver and spleen destroy them through phagocytosis

What is phagocytosis?

Cell eating

How long do red blood cells live?

120 days (3 - 4 months)

How long do white blood cells live?

around 2 hours

What is EPO?

erythropoietin, it is a hormone that increases the production of red blood cells.

What can EPO do to your hematocrit level?

it can raise it, thickening the blood, and increasing the risk of a stroke

What are the functions of red blood cells?

transports oxygen, removes carbon dioxide

What is hemoglobin

a protein that combines with O2

What is heme?

iron containing portion

What is globin?

protein portion

What is the binding site of oxygen in hemoglobin?

iron (so the heme part)

Oxyhemoglobin

high oxygen levels, bright red

What has oxyhemoglobin?

arteries

Deoxyhemoglobin

low in O2, dark red

What has deoxyhemoglobin?

veins

Is deoxygenated blood blue?

No, it is dark red.

What are the elements critical to RBC production?

floic acid, vitamin B12, iron

what is it called when you have too few RBCs?

anemia

What is the function of leukocytes?

protect the body from disease.

What are the 5 types of WBCs?

neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, lymphocytes

What are the two categories of WBCs?

granulocytes and agranulocytes

What does it mean if a cell is a granulocyte?

it has a granular cytoplasm

What does it mean if a cell is an agranulocyte?

it lacks a granular cytoplasm

What is the WBCC per microliter?

5000-10000 per microliter, much lower than RBC

What are the granulocytes?

neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils

What are the agranulocytes?

monocytes and lymphocytes

What identifies a neutrophil?

nucleus has several lobes, active phagocytes

What is a phagocyte?

A white blood cell that engulfs and destroys pathogens by breaking them down.

What percent of WBC are neutrophils?

60%

What causes neutrophil levels to increase?

bacterial infections

What identifies an eosinophil?

Eosinophils are larger than other cells and stand out because of their two-lobed nucleus, which looks like two separate raindrops connected by a thread, reddish grainy in the back

What do eosinophils do?

attack parasites

What percentage of WBC are eosinophils?

2%

How to identify basophils?

Basophil has S-shaped multi-lobed nucleus, very dark colored

What do basophils do?

release histamine and heparin during inflammation and allergic reactions

What do histamines do?

increase the flow of blood and fluids to the affected area

What percentage are basophils in WBC?

1%

How to idenfity monocyte?

largest WBC, horseshoe shaped nucleus

What percent of WBC are monocyte?

3-8%

How to identify lymphocyte?

nuclues is dark and takes up almost whole cell

What is the function of lymphocyte?

main defense of the immune system, have b lymphocytes, t lymphocytes

What do b lymphocytes do?

produce antibodies

What do t lymphocytes do

enhance other aspects of immune system

What percentage of WBC is lymphocytes

20-25%