BLOOD

DRA RITA CHAVEZ PUENTEMGA

7.2.3 BloodCore• Identify red and white blood cells as seen under the light microscope on prepared slides, and in diagrams and photomicrographs• List the components of blood as red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasmaState the functions of blood:• red blood cells – haemoglobin and oxygen transport• white blood cells – phagocytosis and antibody formation• platelets – causing clotting (no details)• plasma – transport of blood cells, ions, soluble nutrients, hormones, carbon dioxide, urea and plasma proteins

RED BLOOD CELLS

• The mature red blood cell (rbc) consists primarily of hemoglobin (about 90%).

• The membrane is composed of lipids and proteins. In addition, there are numerous enzymes present which are necessary for oxygen transport and cell viability.

RED BLOOD CELLS

• The main function of the red cell is to carry oxygen to the tissues and return carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs.

• The protein hemoglobin is responsible for most of this exchange. Normal red blood cells are round, have a small area of central pallor, and show only a slight variation in size.

• A normal red cell is 6-8 µm in diameter

LEUKOCYTES:NEUTROPHILS

• Segmented neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes, or segs) are the mature phagocytes that migrate through tissues to destroy microbes and respond to inflammatory stimuli.

• Segmented neutrophils comprise 40-75 % of the peripheral leukocytes.

• They are usually 9 to 16 µm in diameter. • The nuclear lobes, normally numbering from 2

to 5, may be spread out so that the connecting filaments are clearly visible, or the lobes may overlap or twist.

• The chromatin pattern is coarse and clumped. The cytoplasm is abundant with a few nonspecific granules and a full complement of rose-violet specific granules.

LEUKOCYTES:EOSINOPHILS• Eosinophils are the mature granulocytes that

respond to parasitic infections and allergic conditions.

• Eosinophils comprise about 1 to 4% of the peripheral leukocytes.

• They are usually 9 to 15 µm in diameter. Granules stain a bright reddish-orange with Wright's or Giemsa stains.

• The nucleus contains one to three lobes. The chromatin pattern is coarse and clumped.

• The cytoplasm is abundant with a full complement of bright reddish-orange specific granules.

LEUKOCYTES: BASOPHILS• Basophils are granulocytes that

contain purple-blue granules that contain heparin and vasoactive compounds.

• They comprise approximately 0.5% of the total leukocyte count.

• Basophils participate in immediate hypersensitivity reactions, such as allergic reactions to wasp stings, and are also involved in some delayed hypersensitivity reactions

Lymphocytes

• There are several kinds of lymphocytes (although they all look alike under the microscope), each with different functions to perform .

• The most common types of lymphocytes areB lymphocytes ("B cells"). These are responsible for making antibodies.

LYMPHOCYTES

• Although bone marrow is the ultimate source of lymphocytes, the lymphocytes that will become T cells migrate from the bone marrow to the thymus [View] where they mature.

• Both B cells and T cells also take up residence in lymph nodes, the spleen and other tissues where they

• encounter antigens;• continue to divide by mitosis;• mature into fully functional cells.

LYMPHOCYTES• Lymphocytes in the peripheral

blood have been described on the basis of size and cytoplasmic granularity.

• Small lymphocytes are the most common, ranging in size from 6 to 10 µm.

• The nucleus is usually round or slightly oval.

• The cytoplasm is often seen only as a peripheral ring around part of the nucleus.

MONOCYTES• Monocytes are large

mononuclear phagocytes of the peripheral blood.

• They are the immature stage of the macrophage.

• Monocytes vary considerably, ranging in size from10 to 30 µm in diameter.

• The nucleus is often band shaped (horseshoe), or reniform (kindey-shaped).

• Monocytes leave the blood and become macrophages and one type of dendritic cell.

• Macrophages are large, phagocytic cells that engulf foreign material (antigens) that enter the body dead and dying cells of the body.

PLATELETS• Platelets are the cytoplasmic

fragments of megakaryocytes, circulating as small discs in the peripheral blood.

• They are responsible for hemostasis (the stoppage of bleeding) and maintaining the endothelial lining of the blood vessels.

• During hemostasis, platelets clump together and adhere to the injured vessel in this area to form a plug and further inhibit bleeding.

• Platelets average 1 to 4 µm in diameter.

• The cytoplasm stains light blue to purple, and is very granular.

• There is no nucleus present. • Normal blood concentrations

range from 130,000 to 450,000/µL.

PLASMA• Plasma is about 90 percent

water and makes up 55 percent of the total blood volume.

• It contains numerous substances dissolved in it including electrolytes, hormones, enzymes, antibodies, GLUCOSE, and CLOTTING FACTORS (specialized proteins).

• It also carries the blood cells in suspension.

Composition of blood plasmaComponent Percent

Water ~92

Proteins 6–8

Salts 0.8

Lipids 0.6

Glucose (blood sugar) 0.1