BLOOD AND

ITS
COMPONENT
S
DR.YADWINDER VIRK
Senior Resident (Pathology)
Contents
:
1.
2.
Introduction
RBC
3. WBC
1. Granulocytes
1. Neutrophils
2. Eosinophil’s
3. Basophils
2. Agranulocytes
1. Lymphocytes
2. Monocyte

1. PLATELETS
Blood
◦ Blood is a bright red, viscous, slightly alkaline fluid that accounts for approximately 7 % of total
body weight
Introduction:-

• The average human has 5 litres of blood (Average Blood Volume is 4 to 6 liters).
• It is a transporting fluid.
• Red colour is due to the presence of oxyhaemoglobin.
• Ph - 7.4 slightly alkaline.
• Specific gravity - 1.060
• Viscosity is 5 times greater then the water i.e thicker than water.
• Blood is the only fluid tissue.
• Blood is a complex connective tissue in which living cells, the formed elements, are
suspended in fluid componenet called plasma.
 Functions of Blood
• Transport of:
– Gases, nutrients, waste products
– Processed molecules
– Regulatory molecules.
• Regulation of pH and osmosis.
• Maintenance of body temperature.
• Protection against foreign
substances.
• Clot formation.
 Blood composition

55% Plasma (fluid matrix of water, salts, proteins, etc.)

45% Cellular elements:
❖ Red Blood Cells (RBCs) (Erythrocytes) : 5-6 million RBCs/ml of blood.
Contain hemoglobin which transport oxygen and CO2.

White Blood Cells (WBCs) (Leukocytes) : 5,000-10,000 WBCs/ml

of blood. Play an essential role in immunity and defense.
Include:
Granulocytes
• Neutrophils 40-70%
• Eosinophil's 0-1%
• Basophils 1-5%
Agranulocytes
• Lymphocytes 25-40% T cells and B cells
• Monocyte 2-8% (phagocytes)

❖Platelets (Thrombocytes) :Cellular fragments, 250,000- 400,000/ml of

Plasma
❖ Straw-colored liquid.
❖Consists of h20 and dissolved solutes.
❖ Ions, metabolites, hormones,
antibodies.
❖ Na+ is the major solute of the plasma.
❖ Liquid part of blood
❖ Plasma transports
❖ Soluble food molecules
❖ Waste products
❖ Hormones
❖ Antibodies
 Plasma
ORIGIN OF PLASMA PROTEINS
Embryo

Mesenchyme cells

Albumin synthesized

first

Adults

Reticuloendothelial cells of liver

Spleen, bone marrow, disintegrating blood cells,

tissue cells Gamma globulin synthesized from B

 Plasma
Proteins
❖ Constitute 7-9% of plasma

❖ Three types of plasma proteins: albumins, globulins, & fibrinogen

❖ Albumin accounts for 60-80, plasma protein made by the liver, Creates
colloid osmotic pressure that draws H20 from interstitial fluid into
capillaries to maintain blood volume & pressure

❖ Globulins carry lipids and are produced by lymphocytes.

❖ α globulin: Transport lipids and fat soluble vitamins.
❖ β globulin: Transport lipids and fat soluble vitamins.
❖ γ globulin: Antibodies that function in immunity.
Gamma globulins are antibodies
❖ Fibrinogen Constitutes 4% of plasma proteins. Important
clotting factor. Converted into fibrin during the clotting process.
❖ Serum is fluid left when blood clots
FUNCTION:

1. Coagulation of blood
2. Defence mechanism
3. Role in Transport mechanism
4. Maintanance of osmotic pressure of
blood
5. Acid base regulation
6. Viscosity of blood
7. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Erythrocytes /
•RBC
7-8 μm diameter
• Biconcave disc
shape
–
–  surface area
efficiency for diffusion of O2
& CO2
• Structure
– Plasma membrane
– Cytoplasm
• Hemoglobin
– Binds O2 & CO2
• No nucleus or organelles
• Flexible
• Elastic
• 100-120 day life span
• Originate in bone marrow
Biconcave Properties of
shape: RBS’s:

• Rapid diffusion • Rouleaux formation

• Large surface area • Specific gravity : 1.092 to

1.101.

• Minimal tension • Packed cell

volume

• Suspension
• Squeeze through stability
capillaries
 Life span and fate of
rbc’s
• Average life span -- about 120 days.

• Spleen -- Graveyard of red blood cells.

• Daily 10% red blood cells, which are senile, get destroyed

in normal young healthy adults.

 Leukocytes or white blood cells
(wbcs)
❖ Complete cells (nuclei, mitochondria and organelles)
❖ Move in amoeboid fashion. Can squeeze (leave the blood vessels
through) capillary walls (diapedesis), respond to chemicals
❖ Almost invisible, so named after stains.
❖ Neutrophils are the most abundant WBC, accounts for 50 – 70%
of WBCs.
❖Involved in immune function. Crucial for defense.
❖Positive chemotaxis: they respond to chemical signals and
move toward damage or threats.
❖Body increases amount in response to infection

❖Leukocytosis: more than 11,000 cells/mm3 indicates infection

❖Leukopenia: abnormally low, usually due to corticosteroids and
chemotherapy.
 Granulocytes
❖Neutrophils
❖ Multi-lobed nucleus with fine granules

❖ Act as phagocytes at active sites of infection

❖Eosinophils
❖ Large brick-red cytoplasmic granules

❖ Found in response to allergies and parasitic

worms

❖Basophils
❖ Have histamine-containing granules
 Agranulocytes
are phagocytic & produce antibodies
❖Include lymphocytes & monocytes

❖Ly mphocyt
❖ Nucleus fills most of the cell
es❖ Play an important role in the immune response

Increase in lymphocytes counts is seen in :

• Diptheria
• Infectious hepatitis
• Mumps
• Malnutrition
• Rickets
• Syphilis
• Tuberculosis
 Monocytes:
Monocytes
Largest of the white blood cells
Function as macrophages
Important in fighting chronic infection

Increase in monocytes seen in

◦ Tuberculosis
◦ Syphilis
◦ Malaria
◦ Glandular fever
❖Have nucleus, mitochondria, & amoeboid ability
❖Can squeeze through capillary walls (diapedesis)
❖Granular leukocytes help detoxify foreign substances &
release heparin
❖Include eosinophils, basophils, & neutrophils
Neutrophils
[Polymorphonuclear
◦ Constitute 60 – 70%
leukocytes]
◦ 12 – 15 µm in diameter in blood smear
◦ Nuclei having two to five lobes
◦ Cytoplasm contains abundant specific granules and azurophilic granules
◦ Short lived with a half life of 6 – 7hrs in blood and a life span of 1 – 4 days in
connective tissue(terminal cell)

23
Neutrophils
[Polymorphonuclear
Leukocytes]
Specific granules:
1)Azurophilic(primary): cathepsin, elastase, aryl sulphatase, acid phosphatase
2)Specific (secondary): alkaline phosphatase, lysozyme, collagenase, lactoferrin,
NADPH oxidase
3)Tertiary : gelatinase, cethepsins, glycoprotein that are inserted into plasmalemma

24
 Neutrophils
[Polymorphonuclear
1.
Leukocytes]
Specific granules: contains varies enzymes and pharmacological agents that aid the
neutrophil in performing its antimicrobial functions. In EM granules appear oblong
2. Azurophilic granules: as already indicated, are lysosomes, containing acid hydrolysis,
myeloperoxidase, antibacterial agent lysozyme, bacterial permeability increasing protein,
cethepsin G, Elastase, Nonspecific collagenase
3. Tertiary granules: contain gelatinase and cethepsins as well as glycoprotein that are
inserted into plasmalemma

25
Neutrophils [Pol ymorphonuclear Le
ukocyte
s]

26
 Neutrophils
[Polymorphonuclear
Leukocytes]

27
 Neutrophils
[Polymorphonuclear
◦ Functions :
Leukocytes]
✔ Considered as defence against invasion of micro
organisms
✔ Active phagocytes of small particles and are termed
microphages

28
Neutrophil
s
An increased percentage of neutrophils may be
due to:
◦ Acute infection
◦ Metabolic disorders
◦ Injection of foreign proteins
◦ Acute haemmorhage
◦ Rheumatoid arthritis
◦ Rheumatic fever
◦ Thyroiditis
◦ Trauma

A decreased percentage of neutrophils may be

due to:
◦ Aplastic anemia
◦ Chemotherapy
◦ Influenza
◦ Radiation therapy or exposure
2
◦ Viral infection 9
Eosinophi
ls
◦ Constitute 2-4% of leukocytes

◦ Same size(12-15) as neutrophil

◦ Nucleus is bilobed

◦ Abundance of large, specific granules(abt 200 per cell)stained

by eosin

◦ Survive for 2 to 5 days

3
0
Specific
granules:
◦ Acid phosphatase
◦ Arylsulfatase
◦ Beta- glucoranidase
◦ Cathepsin
◦ Phospholipase
◦ RNAase
◦ Eosinophilic
peroxidase
◦ Major basic protein
 Eosinophils
◦ Eosinophils are responsible for detoxification, disintegration and removal of foreign
◦ proteins.
The lethal substances present in the granules of eosinophils and released at the time of exposure
parasites or foreign proteins are:
to
Internum :
1. Major basic protein (MBP)
[50%]:arginin,histaminase
2. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP)
3.Eosinophil-derived
neurotoxin Externum :
Chemotactic factor receptor

32
Eosinophil

33
Eosinophil

34
 Eosinophils
Functions:
◦ Involved in immediate type of hypersensitivity.
◦ Granules release enzymes capable of degrading chemical mediaters of
inflammation.
◦ Produce histaminase which inactivates histamine.
◦ Count is increased in parasitic infection.

35
Eosinophils
Reduced eosinophil count is seen in
✔ Bacterial infection
✔ Cushing syndrome or use of
steroids
✔ Burns and acute infections

36
Eosinophils
An increased percentage of eosinophils may be due
to:
◦ Asthma
◦ Allergic condition
◦ Collagen vascular disease
◦ Scarlet fewer
◦ Parasitic infection

37
Basophils
◦ 12 – 15 µm in diameter
◦ Make up 1% of blood leukocytes
◦ Nucleus is S shaped
◦ Supplement the function of mast cells
◦ Survive for 60 to 70 hrs

Specific granules consists of:

◦ Eosinophilic chemotactic factor

◦ Heparin
◦ Histamine
◦ Peroxidase

38
39
Basophils

40
Basophils
Functions :
◦ Increased in allergic inflammation
◦ Cause release of histamine, SRS-A.
◦ Cell membrane bears the fc receptors that have affinity for plasma Ig E- basophil is
sensitized
w
◦ Increased by certain harmones like cortisol
◦ Reduced count is seen in urticaria

41
Basophils
An increased percentage of basophils may be due
to:
◦ Small pox
◦ Chicken pox
◦ Polycytemia vera
◦ Allergic reaction
◦ Collagen vascular disease
◦ Varicella infection

A decreased percentage of basophils may be due to:

◦ Acute infection
◦ Cancer
◦ Severe injury
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• Function of T cells :
– secrete lymphokines
– induction of apoptosis in target cells
– create pores in target cells

• Function of B cells :
– produce plasma
cells-
immmunoglobins

• Nk cells/ large granular lymphocytes

– attack cancer cells and viruses
 Platelets
• Also called thrombocytes.
• Derived from ruptured multinucleate cells (megakaryocytes)
• Smallest of formed elements.
• Are fragments of megakaryocytes.
• Lack nuclei.
• Normal platelet count = 300,000/mm3
• Survive 5-9 days
• Have amoeboid movement.
• Important in blood clotting:
• Constitute most of the mass of the clot.
• Release serotonin to reduce blood flow to area.
• Secrete growth factors
• Maintain the integrity of blood vessel wall.
 PROPERTIES OF
1.ADHESIVENESS
PLATELETS
– collagen, thrombin, ADP, Thromboxane A2, calcium
ions and von Willebrand factor.

2.AGGREGATION (GROUPING OF PLATELETS)

– ADP and thromboxane A2.

3.AGGLUTINATION
– Platelet agglutinins.
Functions :-
– Blood coagulation
• Form temporary haemostatic plug
• Sealing blood vessels
– Clot retraction
– Phagocytic function
– Storage & transport of 5-HT & histamine
– Repair of blood vessel.
Thank you