Human Histology

BS in Medical Technology | Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite

LECTURE 1: BLOOD
BLOOD 2. GLOBULINS
× Alpha & Beta – transport proteins
CHARACTERISTICS
× Gamma – immunoglobulins (antibodies);
 Specialized type of LOOSE connective tissue synthesized by Plasma cells
 Location: within blood vessels 3. FIBRINOGEN – largest plasma protein; polymerizes
 Contains: during formation of clot into fibrin fibers
1. PLASMA (extracellular material; fluid matrix) 4. Others: regulatory proteins (enzymes, hormones)
2. FORMED ELEMENTS B. 1%: electrolytes, nutrients, respiratory gases, waste products
A. Erythrocytes – red blood cells (RBC)
B. Leukocytes – white blood cells (WBC) PLASMA VS. SERUM
1) Granulocytes  Plasma – water and dissolved
- Neutrophil substances
- Eosinophil o Blood placed in test tube
- Basophil containing anticoagulant,
2) Agranulocytes centrifuged  3 layers:
- Lymphocytes plasma, buffy coat, erythrocytes
- Monocytes  Serum – plasma minus fibrinogen
C. Platelets (cell fragments) and clotting factors; + growth factors
 About 8% of total body weight (proteins released by the platelets)
o ~5L in a 60kg person o Straw-colored fluid (pale yellow)
 pH 7.4 o Blood placed in test tube without anticoagulant, left to stand
 Color forming a clot
o Light red – oxygenated × Remove the clot, the remaining light-yellow fluid is serum
o Dark red – unoxygenated CENTRIFUGATION OF BLOOD
COMPOSITION OF WHOLE BLOOD  A centrifuge separates out blood components by their various
densities
 The red blood cells (RBCs) are denser and move to the bottom of
the tube
 The plasma fraction is the least dense and will float at the top layer

FORMED ELEMENTS
FUNCTIONS HEMOPOIESIS
 Respiration  HEMOPOIESIS (Greek: haima, blood + poiesis, production) –
o Oxygen transport from production of the formed elements of blood
lungs to other tissues
 Derived from progenitor cells called stem cells (hematopoietic stem
 Nutrition cells)
o Nutrient transport from
 Occurs in the bone marrow:
GIT to other tissues
o Erythropoiesis  erythrocytes
 Excretory o Thrombopoiesis  platelets
o CO2, toxic materials, o Granulopoiesis  granulocytes
and other waste o Monopoiesis; monocytopoiesis  monocytes
materials towards o Lymphopoiesis; lymphocytopoiesis  lymphocytes
excretory organs
 Protection
o Cells and substances
of the immune system
(defense against
infection)
 Regulatory
o Thermoregulation, acid-base balance (pH), osmotic balance,
reservoir for electrolytes, water; transportation of hormones,
proteins
PLASMA
 Transparent, yellowish fluid
 92% WATER
 8% DISSOLVED SUBSTANCES
A. 7% proteins – synthesized by the liver except gamma
globulins
1. ALBUMIN – most abundant, smallest plasma protein;
maintain osmotic pressure

RAMIRO, ARABELLA JOY Q. (2023) | MMLS 2-3 FINALS

 Human Histology
BS in Medical Technology | Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite

LECTURE 1: BLOOD
Hemapoietic Tissues

 Shape is maintained by the following peripheral proteins:
 Tissues where hemopoiesis takes place o Spectrin – binds to actin filaments
 Embryonic o Ankyrin – anchors spectrin to ion channel proteins (band 3
o Yolk sac (from mesoderm) – protein, glycophorin A)
initial formation site  ROULEAUX FORMATION  at level of smaller vessels, since
o Liver & Spleen diameter is small, RBCs stack up in loose aggregates
o Bone marrow – beginning 2nd o Rouleaux  French word meaning ‘roll’
month of intrauterine life (coinciding × Roll of stack-of-coins appearance
with ossification of hyaline FUNCTIONS
framework)
 Carry oxygen as oxyhemoglobin and carbon dioxide as
 Adult
carbaminohemoglobin
o Myeloid Tissue – from birth onwards
o Hemoglobin acts as a buffer and regulates the hydrogen ion
× Bone marrow
concentration (acid-base balance)
o Lymphoid Tissue – specific for lymphocytes
 Carry the blood group antigens and Rh factor
× Bone marrow, Thymus, Lymph nodes, Spleen
× MALT (Mucosa- ERYTHROPOIESIS
tonsils, non-encapsulated lymphoid tissues in the GIT,  Low oxygen levels detected by the kidneys  erythropoietin
respiratory tract, genitourinary tract release
FORMED ELEMENTS  Erythropoietin  hormone produced by the kidneys that
Normal number of Formed Elements in blood
stimulates the bone marrow to produce RBCs
Formed Elements Normal Number
RBCs 4.0 – 6.0 M/cu mm
Males 4.0 – 6.0
Females 4.0 – 5.5
Platelets 150,000 – 400,000/cu mm
WBCs 4,500 – 10,500/cu mm

WBC differential count: average normal values

WBCs Normal Percentage
Neutrophils 50 – 70

Eosinophils 2–5

Basophils 0-1

Lymphocytes 20 - 40 CLINICAL CORRELATES

 SPHEROCYTOSIS – RBCs become sphere shaped rather than
Monocytes 3-7
biconcave
o Defective spectrin, ankyrin, band 3 proteins due to mutations
Normal Life Spans of the formed elements of blood
Formed Elements Lifespan
in genes  Hereditary spherocytosis
In blood In tissues  HEMATOCRIT - erythrocyte volume
RBC 120 days o Low levels leading to low hemoglobin  ANEMIA
o High levels  POLYCYTHEMIA
Platelets 9 – 12 days × Induced by/adaptation to high-altitude (low oxygen
Neutrophil 8 hours 1 – 4 days tension)
× However, leads to high viscosity, “malapot”  strain to
Eosinophil 3 – 8 hours 8 – 12 days
blood circulation and the heart
Basophil Few days
LEUKOCYTES (White Blood Cells)
Lymphocyte
B Several months CHARACTERISTICS
T Several years  Grouped into:
Natural Killer Unknown A. Granulocytes
Monocyte 1 – 2 days 70 days (as B. Agranulocytes
macrophages)  All WBCs become active after leaving the blood to enter tissues
ERYTHROCYTES (Red Blood Cells) o Death by apoptosis after performing cell-specific function
 Shape: spherical while in blood
CHARACTERISTICS o Become amoeboid and motile upon invading tissues
 Biconcave discs  Function: involved in activities related to immunity
o Biconcave shape increases surface area to carry respiratory
gases
 Mature RBCs are anucleate; no organelles
o Hemoglobin – protein with oxygen-carrying capacity fills the
cytoplasm
 Most numerous cells in the blood
 Size
o Diameter 7.5 μm
o Thickness at rim 2.6 μm
o Thickness at center 0.75 μm
 Normal lifespan 120 days

RAMIRO, ARABELLA JOY Q. (2023) | MMLS 2-3 FINALS

 Human Histology
BS in Medical Technology | Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite

LECTURE 1: BLOOD
CLASSIFICATION

Granulocytes
 Contain cytoplasmic granules
 Granular appearance of cytoplasm
 Have polymorphic nuclei
o Different morphologies of nuclei
o Distinguishing feature on blood smear
 Cells:
1. Neutrophils
2. Eosinophils
3. Basophils
 Types of Granules:
1. AZUROPHILIC GRANULES  specialized lysosomes
o Binds to Azure dye
Human blood smear: erythrocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils,
o aka Primary granules
lymphocyte, and platelets
2. SPECIFIC GRANULES  smaller granules containing
proteins and enzymes
o Binds to neutral, basic, and acidic dyes  resulting to
different colors of granules after staining
o aka Secondary granules
Agranulocytes
 NO specific granules, but have few azurophilic granules
 Spherical nucleus  maybe indented, but not lobulated
 Cells:
1. Lymphocytes
2. Monocytes
PLATELETS (Thrombocytes)
 Membrane-bound cell fragments; size: 2-4 μm Stain: Wright stain. High magnification
 Produced by fragmentation of Megakaryocytes
 Anucleate; but with the ff organelles:
o Mitochondria, ribosomes, Golgi complex, smooth and rough
ER
 Functions:
o Hemostasis  arrest of bleeding after injury to blood vessel
(platelet plug and clot formation)
Platelet aggregation, degranulation and fibrin clot formation

RAMIRO, ARABELLA JOY Q. (2023) | MMLS 2-3 FINALS

 Human Histology
BS in Medical Technology | Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite

LECTURE 1: BLOOD

SUMMARY FOR LEUKOCYTES

GRANULOCYTES AGRANULOCYTES
Neutrophil Eosinophil Basophil Lymphocyte Monocyte
-Large, acidophilic granules
-Large, basophilic
-First leukocyte to arrive -Major Basic Proteins -Smallest leukocyte
granules
Distinguishing at sites of infection (MBP)  rich in Arginine Classes:
obscures the
-Forms pseudopodia for which accounts for 1. T-lymphocyte Largest leukocyte
Characteristics nucleus
movement acidophilia 2. B-Lymphocyte
-Contain histamine
-Part of pus formation -Have little phagocytic 3. Natural Killer Cells
and heparin
action
-3-5 lobes connected by
thin Filaments Round, indented
Round, large nucleus
Nucleus (Polymorphonuclear) (Kidney-shaped;
Bilobed (2 lobes) Bilobed (2 lobes) -Little amount of
-Barr body  inactivated horse-shoe
cytoplasm
X-chromosome; Shaped)
drumstick-like appendage
Specific Dark blue to No specific granules; contain some azurophilic
Faint to light pink Red to dark pink
Granules purple granules

Leaves the blood to

Kill helminthic and other Modulate
General Effector and regulatory enter tissues and
Kill and phagocytose parasites via MBPs; inflammation;
cells for ADAPTIVE differentiate into
Function bacteria modulate local release histamine
immunity macrophages/MNP
inflammation during allergy
cells

Morphology

RAMIRO, ARABELLA JOY Q. (2023) | MMLS 2-3 FINALS