blood cell physiology

Question 1

myeloid stem cell to granulocytes and monocytes maturation pathway

Answer 1

myeloid stem cell -> myeloblast and monoblast -> granulocytes and monocytes

Question 2

what 2 groups of chemical signallers are needed for maturation of myeloid stem cell to granulocytes and monocytes (determine route of differentiation)

Answer 2

cytokines and interleukins

Question 3

3 cytokines needed for maturation of myeloid stem cell to granulocytes and monocytes

Answer 3

G-CSF. GM-CSF, M-CSF

Question 4

granulocyte maturation: features of cells as maturing

Answer 4

primary granules and nucleus -> secondary granules which determine type of white cell -> indented nucleus -> changes in nucleus shape as deforms into band form, then segments

Question 5

3 types of granulocytes derived from myeloid stem cells

Answer 5

neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil

Question 6

how long does the neutrophil granulocyte survive in circulation before migrating to tissues

Answer 6

7-10 hours; short-lived cell in circulation and tissues

Question 7

main function of neutrophil

Answer 7

defence against infection; it phagocytoses and then kills micro-organisms

Question 8

how does a neutrophil migrate into tissues (physiology)

Answer 8

circulating (free-flowing in circulation) and marginating (adherent to endothelium) pool: circulation -> adhesion and margination -> rolling -> diapedesis through capillary endothelium -> migration using chemotaxis -> phagocytosis

Question 9

colour in dye and duration of time eosinophil spent in circulation vs neutrophil

Answer 9

pink; less time

Question 10

main function of eosinophil

Answer 10

defence against parasitic infection

Question 11

colour of granules in dye and function of basophils

Answer 11

purple granules; role in allergic response

Question 12

how long do monocytes derived from myeloid stem cells spend in circulation; 4 features of structure of monocytes

Answer 12

several days; lobulated nucleus, plentiful cytoplasm with many granules, vacuole

Question 13

what do monocytes turn into when they migrate into tissues

Answer 13

macrophages/histiocytes

Question 14

functions of macrophages

Answer 14

phagocytic and scavenging function, also store and release iron (ingests nuclei and Hb of dead red cells in spleen)

Question 15

what 3 types of cells are derived from lymphoid stem cells; which 2 are cytotoxic large granular lymphocyte

Answer 15

T cell, B cell, natural killer cell; cytotoxic T cell and natural killer cell

Question 16

recirculation of lymphocytes and purpose

Answer 16

recirculate to lymph nodes and other tissues then through thoracic duct and back to blood stream; increases chance of meeting antigen

Question 17

intravascular life span of lymphocytes

Answer 17

very variable

Question 18

define leucocytosis

Answer 18

too many white cells

Question 19

define leucopenia

Answer 19

too few white cells

Question 20

define neutrophilia

Answer 20

too many neutrophils

Question 21

define neutropenia

Answer 21

too few neutrophils

Question 22

define lymphocytosis

Answer 22

too many lymphocytes

Question 23

define eosinophilia

Answer 23

too many eosinophils

Question 24

define lymphopenia

Answer 24

too few lymphocytes

Question 25

what is atypical lymphocyte (“atypical mononuclear cell”) typically used to describe

Answer 25

abnormal cells present in infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever)

Question 26

neutrophils: what is left shift, and what does it indicate

Answer 26

there is an increase in non-segmented neutrophils, or there are neutrophil precursors in the peripheral blood (earlier stages of neutrophil maturation), indicates inflammation or infection

Question 27

neutrophils: what is toxic granulation

Answer 27

heavy granulation of neutrophils

Question 28

neutrophils: what does toxic granulation result from (3 abnormal, 1 normal)

Answer 28

infection, inflammation, tissue necrosis (also normal feature of pregnancy)

Question 29

define neutrophil hypersegmentation

Answer 29

there is an increase in the average number of neutrophil lobes or segments (usually 3 or 4, so >6), so is right shift

Question 30

cause of neutrophil hypersegmentation

Answer 30

lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid