BLOOD

Histology

A. Prof Dr. Ruzanna

DM, PhD, MSc, MD.
 Blood
Blood is a specialized (fluid) connective tissue
Blood consists of
 Cells
 Extracellular material (plasma)
Blood cells
 Erythrocytes (red blood cells)
 Leukocytes (white blood cells)
 Platelets (thrombocytes)
Junqueira's Hstology 14 edition
P237-250
Wheaters Histology
P46-64
 Blood
Blood is a specialized (fluid) connective tissue
Blood consists of
 Cells
 Extracellular material (plasma)
Blood cells
 Erythrocytes (red blood cells)
 Leukocytes (white blood cells)
 Platelets (thrombocytes)
Normal peripheral blood smear
Erythrocytes
Erythrocyte
Men- 5 million cells/mm3
Women- 4.5 million cells/mm3
Life span 100-120 days and then
destroyed in spleen, liver and
bone marrow.
Erythrocytes contain large amounts of
haemoglobin (oxygen-carrying protein).
 Erythrocytes primarily involved in the transport
of oxygen and carbon dioxide
No organelles
They are non-nucleated flexible biconcave discs,
stained pink
Hemoglobin
 Platelets (Thrombocytes)
Structure
– Small non nucleated, disklike
cell fragments, originate in
bone marrow from giant cell
megakaryocyte
– In stained blood smears,
platelets often appear in
clumps. Each platelet has a
lightly stained peripheral zone,
the hyalomere, and a central
zone containing darker-staining
granules, called the
granulomer.
Function
– Involved in stopping bleeding
when a blood vessel is
damaged. Process is called
hemostasis.
Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas

Granulocytes (BEN)
Neutrophils- 40-70%
Eosinophils- 1-4%
Basophils- <1%
Agranulocytes( ML)
Monocytes- 4-8%
Lymphocytes- 20-45%
Neutrophils
– Most common type of WBC.
– Phagocytize and destroy
bacteria.
– Nucleus – has two to six lobes.
– Granules pick up acidic and
basic stains.
– Pus is composed largely of
dead neutrophils.
Neutrophilia indicates an acute
inflammatory response and is
especially seen in association
with bacterial infections.
Eosinophils

Easily recognised by its large

specific granules, which
stain bright red with eosin.
- Most cells have a bilobed
nucleus.
- Raised eosinophil count
(blood eosinophilia) is
seen in response to allergy
and in infections with
certain parasites.
Basophils
– Nucleus – usually two lobes.
– Granules secrete histamines
numerous large, densely basophilic
(deep blue) specific granules which
are larger, but fewer in number, than
those of eosinophils.
– Basophils and mast cells may rapidly
degranulate, producing vasodilation
in many organs, a sudden drop in
blood pressure, and other effects
comprising a potentially lethal
condition called anaphylaxis or
anaphylactic shock.
– Function in inflammation mediation
• Similar in function to mast cells
 Agranulocytes
Agranulocytes do not have specific granules, but they do contain
azurophilic granules (lysosomes).
This group includes lymphocytes and monocytes
Lymphocytes
– The most important cells of
the immune system
– Nucleus – stains dark purple
– Effective in fighting
infectious organisms
• Act against a specific foreign
molecule (antigen)
• Two main classes of
lymphocyte
– T cells – attack foreign cells
directly
– B cells – multiply to become
plasma cells that secrete
antibodies
 Agranulocytes
Monocytes
– The largest leukocytes
– Nucleus – kidney shaped.
– The cytoplasm of the
monocyte is basophilic and
contains very small
azurophilic granules
(lysosomes)
After crossing the walls of
postcapillary venules, monocytes
differentiate into macrophages in
connective tissues, microglia in
the CNS, osteoclasts in bone, etc.
Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas

Granulocytes (BEN)
Neutrophils- 40-70%
Eosinophils- 1-4%
Basophils- <1%
Agranulocytes( ML)
Monocytes- 4-8%
Lymphocytes- 20-45%
Granular Leukocytes
A
Eosinophil
2-4%

B
Neutrophil
60-70%
C
Basophil
0.5-1%
 Agranular Leukocytes

Lymphocyte
20-25%

Monocyte
3-8%
A

B
 Leukocytes – White Blood Cells (WBCs)

Protect the body from infectious microorganisms.

The number of leukocytes in the blood varies
according to age, sex, and physiologic
conditions. In healthy adults, there are roughly
6000–10,000 leukocytes per microliter of
blood.
Leukocytosis is the increase in number as in
inflammation.
Leukopenia is the decrease in number.
 Blood volume
– Males: 5 – 6 liters
– Females: 4 – 5 liters
Hematocrit-(HCT or packed
cell volume PCV) the
percentage of erythrocyte
volume in the blood sample
Men-39-50%
Women-35-45%
Serum- Is the same as blood
plasma except that clotting
factors have been removed
Interstitial fluid- surrounds cells
of connective tissue and is
derived from blood plasma

The pH of blood is about 7.35-7.45

THANK YOU