Blood & its Cellular Components

Catherine G. Gironella, MD, FPPS, FPASMAP

DPSA
 Hematopoiesis

• Blood cell formation

• Occurs in red bone marrow
• All blood cells are derived from a
common stem cell (hemocytoblast)
 Formed Elements
• Erythrocytes(RBC): 4 – 6 M/ml of
blood
= Unnucleated, O2 carrying protein
(Hgb) , biconcave disks, 7.5 umϴ,
2.6 um rim, 0.75 um center
***Oxyhemoglobin: O2 carrying Hgb
Carbahemoglobin: CO2 carrying
 Fate of Erythrocytes

• Wear out in 90 to 120 days

• When worn out, are eliminated by
phagocytes in the spleen or liver
 Control of RBC Production

• Rate is controlled by a hormone

(erythropoietin)
• Kidneys (juxtaglomerular region )
produce most erythropoietin as a
response to reduced oxygen levels in
the blood
Erythropoiesis: RBC origin &
maturation
 Lifespan: 120 days
 Embryogenesis : blood cells arise in yolk sac
 2nd Trimester: Liver & Spleen
 3rd Trimester: Bone marrow
 Pluripotent stem cell→Lymphoid (lymphocytes)
→ Myeloid → proerythroblast → basophilic
erythroblast polychromatic erythroblast →
Orthochromatophilic erythroblast → nucleus
ejected →reticulocyte→erythrocyte(matureRBC)
 Maturation of Erythrocytes

Erythropoietin (Epo) growth factor

(kidneys): - stimulates production of
protein of Hgb

Colony–stimulating factors (CSF) or

Hematopoietins
- stimulate proliferation of immature cells
- supports differentiation of maturing cells
- enhances the functions of mature cells
 Clinical Aspects:
 Anemia: decrease Hemoglobin or RBC

* Hypochromic – more asso. w/ Hgb.

 Erythrocytosis/Polycythemia: increase RBC

 Macrocyte: > 9umϴ Microcyte:< 6 umϴ

 Anisocytosis: different sizes

 Sickle cell anemia - mutation in Hemoglobin B chain

Leukocytes (White Blood Cells)

• Inactive in circulating blood

• Active state: perform their
defense capabilities against
diseases → but able to move into
and out of blood vessels
(Diapedesis)→ site of
inflammation or infections
Leukocyte Levels in the Blood
• 4,000 - 11,000 cells / mm
• Abnormal leukocyte levels
•Leukocytosis : increase in
WBC count which can signify
presence of a bacterial infection
Leukopenia: decrease in
WBC that can be due to a viral
infection
 Types of Leukocytes

• Granulocytes
• Granules in their
cytoplasm can be
stained
• Include
neutrophils,
eosinophils, and
basophils
Figure 10.4
• Agranulocytes
• Lack visible
cytoplasmic
granules
• Include
lymphocytes
and
monocytes
Figure 10.4
 Granulocytes
• Neutrophils (PMN)– 40 - 60%
• Barr body – inactive X chromosome
• Active phagocytes, azurophilic granules ( proteases,
anti-bacterial proteins)
• Short lived: 6–8 hours in blood; 1– 4 days tissues

• Eosinophils - 1 - 3 %
• Bilobed nucleus; red granules
• Found in response to allergies and (MBP)
parasitic worms; Life span 1-2 wks
 Granulocytes
• Basophils – 0 -1 %
• 2 irreg. lobes; Granules (histamines,
eosinophil chemotactic factors)
receptors for IgE
• Initiate inflammation; w/ surface receptors
IgE
• Similar to the function mast cells in in
connective tissues
• Life span : several months
Agranulocytes
• Lymphocytes – 20-25%
• Nucleus fills most of the cell; Life span hrs- yrs.
years
• role in the immune response ( B-lymphocytes
(Ig), helper (CD4+), cytotoxic (CD8+) T –
lymphocytes & NK cells
• Monocytes – 3-8%
• Largest of the WBC
• kidney shaped nucleus
• Precursors of macrophages; life span: hrs -
years
Mononuclear
Monocyte in the blood; Macrophages
in tissues
Von Kupffer cell in the liver
Intramesangial cells – kidney
Alveolar macrophage – lungs
Microglia – brain
Sinus macrophage – spleen & LN
Serosal macrophage – peritoneum
Langerhans cell - skin
Platelets or Thrombocytes
• Thrombopoietin:
Megakaryoblasts→ derived from
ruptured multinucleate cells
(megakaryocytes: precursors
of platelets )
• Needed for the clotting process
• Normal platelet count:
150,000 -400,000/mm3
• Life span : 10 days