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"Q: What is agglutination

and what causes it?"

"Q: What are antigens in blood typing?"

"A: Antigens are proteins on the surface of red blood cell membranes; they are normal for the person who has them

"Q: What are antibodies in blood typing?"

"A: Antibodies are proteins in the plasma that are made to recognize and attack foreign antigens from non-matching blood."

"Q: What determines your ABO blood type?"

"A: It is determined by the presence or absence of A and B antigens on the red blood cell surface."

"Q: What is the relationship between antigens and antibodies in the ABO system?"

"A: The antibodies are opposite to the antigens — similar to a lock-and-key model (e.g.

"Q: What blood type has no antigens and what blood type has both?"

"A: • Type O: No antigens\n• Type AB: Both A and B antigens"

"Q: Which blood type has no antibodies

and which has both?"

"Q: What is the Rh factor?"

"A: The Rh factor is another antigen that determines whether blood type is positive (+) or negative (−)."

"Q: How is Rh factor inherited?"

"A: It is inherited genetically and does not appear spontaneously. People only develop Rh antibodies if exposed to Rh-positive blood when they are Rh-negative."

"Q: What happens if an Rh-negative person receives Rh-positive blood?"

"A: Their immune system will react and produce antibodies against the Rh antigen

"Q: Can Rh-positive people receive Rh-negative blood?"

"A: Yes. Rh-positive people can safely receive Rh-negative blood

"Q: Why is the Rh factor important in pregnancy?"

"A: If an Rh-negative mother carries an Rh-positive baby

"Q: How is Rh incompatibility prevented during pregnancy?"

"A: By giving the mother RhoGAM

"Q: What reaction occurs when antibodies combine with antigens?"

"A: Agglutination — the clumping of red blood cells."

"Q: What are white blood cells also called?"

"A: Leukocytes."

"Q: What are the main functions of white blood cells?"

"A: They defend the body through phagocytosis and protect us by producing antibodies."

"Q: Can white blood cells leave the circulatory system?"

"A: Yes. They can leave through capillary walls

"Q: What is phagocytosis?"

"A: A process where a cell engulfs and digests foreign materials or malfunctioning cells — literally “cell eating.”"

"Q: What is histamine

and which cells release it?"

"Q: What does histamine do in the body?"

"A: It causes vasodilation (widening of blood vessels) and increased vascular permeability

"Q: What signals other WBCs to come to the infection site?"

"A: The release of histamine acts as a signal to attract more white blood cells."

"Q: What is heparin

and where is it found?"

"Q: How do heparin and histamine work together?"

"A: They coordinate the inflammatory response — • Histamine makes blood vessels leaky (vasodilation) • Heparin keeps blood thin

"Q: Where are mast cells found?"

"A: In connective tissue

"Q: What are the two main types of white blood cells?"

"A: Granulocytes and Agranulocytes."

"Q: How can granulocytes and agranulocytes be distinguished in the lab?"

"A: By staining — granulocytes have visible granules in their cytoplasm that pick up the stain; agranulocytes do not."

"Q: Where are granulocytes made

and how long do they live?"

"Q: What are the three types of granulocytes?"

"A: Neutrophils

"Q: What are the functions of neutrophils?"

"A: They are highly active phagocytes that increase during short-term (acute) infections such as appendicitis

"Q: What are the functions of eosinophils?"

"A: They are active during allergic reactions and fight parasitic infections."

"Q: What are the functions of basophils?"

"A: They contain histamine and heparin and are released at infection sites to promote inflammation and blood flow."

"Q: What are the two main types of agranulocytes?"

"A: Lymphocytes and Monocytes."

"Q: What are lymphocytes responsible for?"

"A: Immunity — they recognize

"Q: What are the two types of lymphocytes and their roles?"

"A: • B lymphocytes (B cells): Produce antibodies that tag antigens.\n• T lymphocytes (T cells): Act as killer cells that destroy infected cells after being signaled by B cells."

"Q: What do monocytes develop into

and what do they do?"

"Q: Where do monocytes reside in the body?"

"A: They live in tissues

"Q: What does a CBC test measure?"

"A: A complete blood count (CBC) measures the total number of white blood cells (and other components) in the blood."

"Q: What is a differential white blood cell count?"

"A: A differential count breaks down the five types of white blood cells by percentage

"Q: When is a differential count automatically done?"

"A: When the total WBC count is above or below normal levels."