HUMAN HISTOLOGY (LECTURE)

LESSON 7: HISTOLOGY OF BLOOD

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2nd SEMESTER I S.Y. 2021-2022
TRANCRIBED BY: JEAN HERSHEY REYES

Functions of Blood  Leukocytes (white blood cells, WBC)

1. To transport nutrients, oxygen, wastes, and carbon dioxide to and  Spherical when they are in circulated blood
from the tissues.  Larger in blood smear preparation
o Oxygen from the lungs
o Nutrients from the gastrointestinal tract o Granulocytes (with specific granules)
 Neutrophil (~60% of WBC)
2. To convey hormones, cytokines, chemokines, and other soluble  Eosinophil (~4% of WBC)
regulatory molecules.  Basophil (<1% of WBC)
3. To transport leukocytes and antibodies through the tissues.
4. To maintain homeostasis. o Agranulocytes (without specific granules)
 Lymphocyte (B-cell, T-cell) (~27% of WBC)
 Blood is the fluid that circulates in the cardiovascular system.  Monocyte (~8% of WBC)
 Form of loose connective tissue that consist cellular
components.  Fibrinogen is the precursor of the fibrils (the protein needed to
 Suspended in fluid intercellular substances which is the matrix complete the final step of blood clotting.)
(plasma)
Routine staining includes:
Contents of 1 ul of Peripheral Blood  Gensa
 Jenner
 Wright
 Leishman

Human Blood Smear, with RBCs, WBCs and Platelets

Major Plasma Proteins

Protein Function
Albumin  Maintain colloid osmotic pressure;
transport insoluble metabolites
 Smallest but most abundant
 Bind pre-fatty acids and steroid hormones
Smear of Peripheral Blood
GLOBULINS

Alpha and Beta  Transport metal ions, protein-bound

lipids, lipid-soluble vitamins
 Bind and transport substances

Gamma  Antibodies for host defense

Complement  Destruction of microorganisms

Proteins  Consist of more than 20 proteins
 Involve in inflammatory and immune
response

Clotting Factors  Formation of blood clots

Plasma  Transport of triglycerides and cholesterol
Lipoproteins to/from liver
 Insoluble in water
Erythrocyte (red blood cell, RBC)
Cells of the Blood
1. Life span in blood: About 120 days.
 Erythrocytes (red blood cells, RBC) 2. Size and shape:
 Platelets (thrombocytes)- cell fragments  biconcave disk, 8 μm diameter, 2μm at thickest point,
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 1 μm at thinnest
 The shape is maintained by a cytoskeletal complex 3. LM appearance in smears: Small basophilic fragments, often
inside the plasma membrane appearing in clusters.
 flexible: RBC’s normally bend to pass through small
capillaries
3. LM appearance in smear: Pink circle with light center (center
is thinner because of the biconcave shape). NO NUCLEUS.

4. TEM appearance: Solid dark gray cytoplasm, because of highly

concentrated hemoglobin.

4. Function: Platelets initiate blood clots (stop bleeding).

5. Function: Transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide

 bound to hemoglobin (oxyhemoglobin and
carboxyhemoglobin)

 Membrane bound cell fragments

 Seen in clamps in blood smear
 Contain cytoplasmic organelles

Neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocyte)

1. Life Span: < 1 week

2. Granulocyte with specific and non-specific granules

Specific Granules Non-Specific Granules

(Lysosomes)
 They cannot produce ATP due to their life-span
 They would undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death)  Type IV collagenase  Lysozyme
 Appear rounded when viewed on flat surface. (aids migration)  Acid hydrolase
 Anucleated cells  Lactoferrin  Myeloperoxidase
(sequesters iron)  Elastase
Platelets (thrombocytes)  Phospholipase A2
(leukotriene synthesis)
1. Life Span: about 10 days  Lysozyme (digests
2. Shape, size, and origin: 2-3 μm in diameter. Non-nucleated bacterial cell wall)
cell fragments derived from cytoplasm of a very large cell, the
megakaryocyte, in bone marrow.
3. LM appearance in smear: About 9-12 μm in diameter (thus
larger than RBC). Nucleus long and multi-lobed (usually 2-4
lobes). The Cytoplasm has small, neutrally stained specific
granules. Non-specific granules are azurophilic.

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 tissues

4. Function: Primarily antibacterial

 Nucleus: 2-3 lobes (usually 2)

 Chromatin is finer
 Cationic ions; variety of hydrolytic enzymes
 Azurophilic is fewer and smaller than their granules
 Limited phagocytic

Basophil

1. Life Span: 1-2 years

 Most abundant 2. Granulocyte with specific and non-specific granules
 Nucleus: 2-6 lobes (joined to each other by a narrow bond of
nuclear material. Specific Granules Non-Specific Granules
 Most distinctive picture under the light microscope. (Lysosomes)
 Secretory vesicles
 Specific granules are too small  Histamine  Lysozyme
 Bacteriozidal properties- phagocytase  Heparin  Acid hydrolase
 They are actually lysosomes  Eosinophil chemotactic  Myeloperoxidase
factor  Elastase
 Phospholipids for
 Azurophilic contains lysosomal enzymes that are intended for
synthesis of
use within the cell (primary granules)
leukotrienes
Eosinophil
3. LM appearance in smear: About 8-10 μm in diameter. The
cytoplasm contains large, purple/black specific granules
1. Life Span: < 2 weeks
(stained with the basic dye) that are larger than but not as
2. Granulocyte with specific and non-specific granules
numerous as those of eosinophils. The nucleus is usually
bilobed, but usually is partially obscured by granules, which can
Specific Granules Non-Specific Granules
lie over it.
(Lysosomes)

 Major basic protein  Lysozyme

 Eosinophilic cationic  Acid hydrolase
protein  Myeloperoxidase
 Neurotoxin  Elastase
 Histaminase

3. LM appearance in smear: About 10-14 μm in diameter. Bi-

lobed nucleus. The cytoplasm has prominent pink/red specific
granules (stained with eosin dye). If the smear is not stained
properly, the granules may be brownish.

4. Function: Allergies and anaphylaxis (hypersensitivity reaction)

4. Function:
o Anti-parasitic activity
o Mediators of inflammatory/allergic responses in
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 Blue and dark purple
Lymphocyte
1. Life Span: variable (few days to several years)
2. LM appearance in smear: Small lymphocytes (about 90% of
lymphocytes you will see) are ~8 μm in diameter, while large
lymphocytes may be up to about 15 μm. Round, dense nucleus
(abundant heterochromatin). The cytoplasm of a small
lymphocyte is a narrow rim around the nucleus, and when well
stained is pale blue. T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes cannot
be distinguished in a smear.
 Has no specific granules
 Contains few azurophilic granules
Monocyte
1. Life Span: few days in blood, several months in connective
tissue
2. LM appearance in smears: About 16 μm in smears, thus the
largest leukocyte. Large, eccentric nucleus oval, kidney-shaped
or horseshoe-shaped, with delicate chromatin that is less dense
than that of lymphocytes. Pale cytoplasm, often grayish, may
contain occasional stained granules (lysosomes = azurophilic
granules). Large lymphocytes may resemble monocytes, but
the lymphocyte nucleus is usually denser.

3.
3. Function: Cellular and humoral immunity. In general:
o B-lymphocytes (B-cells): may differentiate into
tissue plasma cells which make antibodies. Some B-
cells become memory cells.
o T-lymphocytes (T-cells): cytotoxic T cells and
helper T cells. 4.
4. TEM appearance: The cytoplasm doesn't appear to be very
active, containing mainly mitochondria and free ribosomes.
Function
o Migrate into tissues and constitute mononuclear
phagocyte system that help destroy foreign bodies
and maintain or remodel tissues and Mediate
inflammatory response
o Tissue macrophages Kupfer cells (liver) Osteoclasts
(bone), Dust cells (lungs),Microglia
o (brain),
o Antigen presenting cells: Dendritic Cells, Langerhans
cells
TEM appearance: Cytoplasm contains mitochondria and some
small lysosomes.

 Capable of continuous produce of azurophilic granules.

 Act as the principal agent of body’s immune response

 Small lymphocyte mostly found on blood
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