Blood Anatomy & Physiology

Hemoglobin

Protein within red blood cells that aids in the transportation of oxygen, some carbon dioxide; production of this protein requires iron

Plasma

One component of blood; the non-living liquid portion

Formed elements

One of the components of blood; consist of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets

Identify: Lymphocytes

Cells are classified as small (5-8 um), medium (10-12 um), or large (14-17 um); characterized by a realtively large, round, dark-staining nucleus surrounded by a narrow rim of cytoplasm

Type: Lymphocytes

Agranular

Function: Lymphocytes

Give rise to antibody-productin cells (B-cells); directly attack virus-infected cells, transplanted cells, cancer cells, some bacteria (T-cells); increase in number following infection and immune response

Abundance: Lymphocytes

25-35%

Identify: Monocytes

Largest of all WBCs, up to 20 um; characterized by an oval or kindey bean-shaped nucleus surrounded by a pale cytoplasm

Type: Monoctyes

Agranular

Function: Monocytes

Once they leave the capillaries these cells transform into wandering macrophages; macrophages phagocytize pathogens and dead tissue

Abundance: Monocytes

3-7%

Identify: Neutrophils

"“Polymorphonuclear”: nucleus shows a variety of forms, but generally consist of 3 to 5 irregularly oval-shaped lobed connected by thin strands of nuclear material; cytoplasm is filled with very fine granules

Type: Neutrophils

Granular

Function: Neutrophils

Destroy bacteria by phagocytosis (primary); chemically attracted to sites of inflammation

Abundance: Neutrophils

55-65%

Identify: Eosinophils

Characterized by an irregularly shaped nucleus partially contricted into two lobes, somewhat larger than neutrophils; cytoplasm is filled w/ coarse, round uniformly-sized red-orange granules

Type: Eosinophils

Granular

Function: Eosinophils

Targets certain parasitic worms: gather around worm, and releases digestive chemicals from granules; also has a complex role in allergic responses and asthma

Abundance: Eosinophils

1-3%

Identify: Basophils

Contain an irregularly shaped nucleus which may appear as two lobes; cytoplasm is filled w/ irregular, blue-purple granules that usually obscure the bi-lobed nucleus

Type: Basophils

Granular

Function: Basophils

Involved in inflammatory and allergic reactions: release histamine; counts increase w/ allergic reactions, leukemia, diabetes, and autoimmunce disorders

Abundance: Basophils

0.5-1%

Hemocytoblast

Stem cell that resides in the red bone marrow that develops into all formed elements

Hematopoiesis/Hemopoiesis

The process of differentiation from a hemocytoblast to a specific formed element

Platelets

Fragments of cells, broken off from large parent cells (known as megakaryocytes) in the bone marrow and are essential in the process of blood clotting

Anemia

Decrease in oxygen carrying capacity of blood; can result from either low hemoglobin concentration or low erythrocyte count

Aplastic anemia

caused by failure of red bone marrow to produce RBC’s

Iron deficiency anemia

Decrease in hemoglobin production due to inadequate iron; identified by the ratio of hemoglobin to hematocrit

Sickle cell anemia

Inherited condition in which hemoglobin is misshapen, resulting in masshaped RBC and reduced oxygen carrying capacity

Polycythemia

Higher than normal volume of RBC’s

Leukemia

An abnormal increase in the production and release of immature leukocytes by cancerous bone marrow cells

Hematocrit

Packed cell volume (PCV) represente the relative colume of plasma and RBC’s

Buffy coat

White layer that develops during centrifugation to determine hematocrit