Structure, Function and Staining Characteristics of Normal Blood Cells

Question 1

What is another name for a red blood cell?

Answer 1

erythrocyte

Question 2

what is the size of a red blood cell and what are the normal reference ranges for them in men and women?

Answer 2

Red blood cells are 7-8 um in size. Ref range is 4.5-5.5 x10^12/L in men, and 3.8-4.8x10^12/L in women

Question 3

what is the life span of a RBC

Answer 3

120 days

Question 4

What colour are RBC when stained in a blood film

Answer 4

salmon pink

Question 5

what does the bi-concave shape of the RBC allow it to do?

Answer 5

very flexible, large surface area to pick up O2 in the lungs

Question 6

where are RBCs produced

Answer 6

in the bone marrow from an erythroblast which derives from a haemopoietic stem cell

Question 7

when do red blood cells have a nucleus?

Answer 7

precursors in the bone marrow have a nucleus, but as they mature they lose it prior to release into the blood.

Question 8

what is another name for a platelet

Answer 8

thrombocytes

Question 9

from what cell are platelets dervied?

Answer 9

megakaryocyte which is derived from the haemopoietic stem cell

Question 10

what is the reference range for platelets

Answer 10

150-400 x10^9/L

Question 11

what colour are platelets stained in a blood film

Answer 11

pale blue

Question 12

what are the 5 types of white blood cells

Answer 12

neutrophil, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocyte, monocyte

Question 13

what is the reference range for leucocytes in the body

Answer 13

4-10x10^9/L

Question 14

which white blood cells are known as granulocytes and why?

Answer 14

neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils- these leucocytes have granules in the cytoplasm

Question 15

how is the nucleus in a granulocyte described

Answer 15

a lobed nucleus

Question 16

which leucocytes are described as being a mononuclear cell

Answer 16

lymphocyte and monocyte

Question 17

Write a short note on Neutrophils including their size, nucleus, colour in a blood film, function and reference range.

Answer 17

Neutrophils are 2-3 times the size of a red blood cell. They have a lobed nucleus with 2-5 lobes each joined by a filament of nuclear material. The nucleus is stained purple, cytoplasm is blue and granules are lilac. They are phagocytes meaning they digest and kill bacteria. They move by Chemotaxis. Absolute count is 2-7x10^9/L. They spend 6-10 hours in the blood before moving to the tissues where they live for several days. In females, some have a small lobe known as the drumstick which represents the inactive X chromosome.

Question 18

Write a short note on Eosinophils including their size, nucleus, colour in a blood film, function and reference range.

Answer 18

These are 2 times the size of a RBC. They have a bi-lobed nucleus. Orange/pink granules in the cytoplasm. Granules are Eosinophilic meaning they take up the acidic part of the dye (eosin). Circulate the blood for 6 hours before moving to the tissues to survive for several days. 1-3% of white cells in a healthy adult. Absolute count is 0.02-0.5 x10^9/L. Are phagocytic and protect the body from parasites and allergic reactions.

Question 19

Write a short note on Basophils including their size, nucleus, colour in a blood film, function and reference range.

Answer 19

2 times the size of a RBC. These are the least numerous (<1% of white cells). Absolute count is 0.02-0.1x 10^9/L. Have a lobed nucleus obscured by large purple stained granules. Granules are basophilic as they take up the basic part of the dye (methylene blue). Circulate blood before moving to tissues. Have a role in allergic and inflammatory response. Contain heparin and histamine.

Question 20

Write a short note on Lymphocytes including their size, nucleus, colour in a blood film, function and reference range.

Answer 20

Small lymphocytes are the smallest white cell. These are the size of a RBC. Most numerous after the neutrophil (20-45% in healthy adult). Absolute count is 1-3 x 10^9/L. Have a large nucleus which takes up most of the cell. Remaining cytoplasm stains pale blue. Are produced by lymphoid precursor cells in bone marrow. T lymphocytes mature in the thymus. Usually involved in viral infections. T lymphocytes account for 70-80%, B lymphocytes account for 20-30%.

Question 21

what do B lymphocytes produce

Answer 21

antibodies

Question 22

Write a short note on Monocytes including their size, nucleus, colour in a blood film, function and reference range.

Answer 22

Largest of blood cells, 3 times the size of RBC. Horse shoe or kidney shaped nucleus. Nucleus changes shape when cell is activated. Grey-ish blue cytoplasm with a few basophilic staining granules and vacuoles. These fight bacterial and fungal infections. Are phagocytic and secrete chemical messengers known as cytokines. Blood monocytes are the precursor to tissue macrophages.

Question 23

what are NK cells

Answer 23

natural killer cells.