Lec-5- General physiology Assit.Lec.

Dhuha Farhan

White Blood Cells

The leukocytes, also called white blood cells, are the mobile units of the body’s protective
system. White blood cells (leukocytes) help defend the body against disease. Five types of white
blood cells are in circulating blood and are distinguished by size, granular appearance of the
cytoplasm, shape of the nucleus, and staining characteristics. Normally a cubic milliliter of blood
contains 5,000 to 10,000 white blood cells.

Formation of Granulocytes

The granulocytes are formed in the red bone marrow. The sequence of cell
division/differentiation which gives rise to granulocytes is as follows:

Granulocyte and Macrophage Colony- Stimulating Factors

The production of red and white blood cells is regulated with great precision in healthy humans.
The production of granulocytes is rapidly increased in infections by bacteria, viruses, fungi or
parasites. The proliferation and maturation of the cells that enter the blood from the marrow are
regulated by

(i) Granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF)

(ii) Granulocyte CSF (G-CSF)
(iii) (iii) Macrophage (M-CSF)
Lec-5- General physiology Assit.Lec. Dhuha Farhan

Platelets
Platelets are one of the formed elements of blood. Platelets are formed from the megakaryocyte
cells in the bone marrow. Platelets are not nucleated and they have a diameter of 2-3μ. The
normal platelet count is 200,000- 400,000 per mm3 . Platelets contain glycogen, lysosomes and
two types of granules: dense granules and alpha-granules. The dense granules contain ADP,
serotonin and calcium. The alpha-granules contain clotting factors and other proteins. Platelets
have the ability to collect at the site of injury (platelet aggregation) and discharge the contents
Functions of Platelets
(i) They prevent blood loss by adhering to the vessels walls and forming aggregate
plugs.
(ii) On damage, they undergo the release reaction and release amines (histamine,
serotonin, and adrenaline), adenine nucleotides (ADP) and phospholipids.
(iii) They bring about clot retraction (platelet contractile protein).
(iv) They contribute to endothelial integrity

The production of platelet is regulated by thrombopoietin or thrombopoietic

stimulating factor (TSF) which is present in the blood.

Plasma and Plasma Proteins

Plasma is the fluid portion of the blood. It is straw-coloured. It is part of the
extracellular fluid, although it is found in the intravascular space. Its composition is
Lec-5- General physiology Assit.Lec. Dhuha Farhan

similar to that of the interstitial fluid, except for a much higher concentration of
proteins in the plasma.
Plasma Proteins
The plasma proteins consist of albumin, globulin and fibrinogen. The total plasma
protein concentration is 64-83g per liter (about 6-8g per 100ml).
Functions of Plasma Proteins
(i) Exerts an osmotic pressure of 25 mmHg (oncotic pressure) that helps to pull
water from the tissue spaces back into the blood.
(ii) Helps to transport various substances, e.g. are albumin-transports calcium,
bilirubin, alpha-globulin-transports cortisol, thyroxine, Vit B12. beta-globulin-
transports iron (transferrin) cholesterol, lipids, insulin, the fat soluble vitamins
A, D, and K.
(iii) Plasma proteins act as blood buffers. They are responsible for 15% of the
buffering capacity of the blood.
(iv) The proteins contribute to the viscosity of the blood.
(v) The globulins are the antibodies that defend the body against foreign antigens.
Serum
is the fluid and solute component of blood which does not play a role in
clotting. It may be defined as blood plasma without the clotting factors