Hematology= hemat-blood
ology-study of
Average adult
has 8-10 pints (45 quarts) of
blood in their
body.
Blood
One drop of blood contains:
5 million RBCs
250,000-500,000 platelets
7,500 WBCs
Red blood cells live 120 days.
Make new blood cells 2 million per second!
Functions
 Transports nutrients,
oxygen, cellular waste
products, and
hormones.
 Aids in distribution of
heat.
 Regulates acid-base
balance.
 Helps protect against
infection.
Composition
 Plasma – liquid
portion of blood
without cellular
components.
Serum
Plasma after a
blood clot is
formed.
Composition
 Cellular elements
are red cells,
white cells and
platelets
Plasma
Straw colored and
contains:
 Water
 Blood proteins
 Nutrients
 Electrolytes
 Hormones, vitamins,
enzymes
 Metabolic waste
products
Plasma
Fibrinogen
Albumin
Prothrombin
Necessary for blood
clotting, synthesized in
the liver.
From the liver, helps
maintain blood’s
osmotic pressure and
volume.
A globulin which helps
blood coagulate.
Vitamin K necessary
for prothrombin
synthesis
Erythrocytes
 Shape = biconcave discs
 Hemoglobin- gives red
color,
 heme is iron
 globin is protein,
 Function – transports
oxygen to tissues and
carbon dioxide away from
cells
 Normal – men 14-18 gm
 Women – 12-16 gm
Function of hemoglobin
 Red cells travel
through the lungs
where O2+hemoglobin
oxyhemoglobin O2 is
carried to tissues and
released CO2 picked up
and carried back to the
lungs for exchange.
 Arterial blood – lots of
oxyhemoglobin =
bright red
 Venous blood – lots of
CO2 = dark crimson.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
 CO is a colorless odorless
tasteless gas that is
commonly produced by
fire, automobiles exhaust,
and space heaters.
 CO interferes with the
delivery of O2 in the blood.
 O2 is crowded out of the
hemoglobin, eventually
depriving cells of their
oxygen supply and can be
fatal.
Erythrocytes
Erythropoiesis
Manufacture of red blood
cells.
Occurs in bone marrow.
Red cells live 120 days.
Old cells broken down by
the spleen and liver.
Hemolysis
Rupture or bursting of
erythrocyte, can be
from a blood
transfusion or disease.
Erythropoiesis
Hemolysis
White Blood Cells Leukocytes





Larger than erythrocytes
Granular or agranular
5 types
Normal leukocyte count = 3,200 – 9,800
Diapedesis- when WBC have the ability to squeeze
through the intercellular spaces of capillary walls to
fight infection in neighboring tissues.
Types of White Cells…
Neutrophils
Eosinophils
Basophils
Lymphocytes
Granuloccyte
formed in the
bone marrow
Phagocytize
bacteria
Granulocyte
Formed in the
bone marrow
Increase in
numbers in
allergic
conditions,
malaria and in
worm
infestation.
Produce heparin
an anti-coagulant
Granulocyte
Count increases
during chronic
inflammation
and during
healing from
infection.
Agranulocyte
absence of
cytoplasmic
granules formed
in lymph glands,
nodes and bone
marrow. Blymphocytes and
T-lymphocyte
Protect against
cancer cells.
White Blood Cells cont.
Lymphocytes Monocytes
Agranulocyte absence
of cytoplasmic
granules formed in
lymph glands, nodes
and bone marrow. Blymphocytes and Tlymphocyte Protect
against cancer cells.
Assist in phagocytosis
leave blood vessels and
attach themselves to
tissues, during
infection they help to
wall off and isolate the
infected area
Agranulocyte
Leukocytes
Phagocytosis –
process when white
cells surround
engulf, and digest
harmful bacteria.
Inflammation
Start 
Body’s
reaction to
chemical or
physical
trauma.
Pus produced a combination of
dead tissue, dead and living
bacteria, dead leukocytes and
plasma

Histamine
increases the
blood flow to
the injured area.

Symptoms –
Pathogenic
redness, local heat,

swelling
and
pain
disease


Why? Bacterial
producing
toxins, increase
microorganisms
blood flow,
can cause
collection of
inflammation.
plasma in tissues
– edema.
Inflammation
Inflammation Cont.
Abscess
Pus-filled cavity
below the
epidermis.
Pyrexia
Increase in body
temperature by
the hypothalamus
in response to
pathogenic
invasion
Leukocytosis
Increase in the
number of white
cells in response to
infection
Leukopenia
Decrease in
number of white
cells due to
chemotherapy or
radiation
Thrombocytes
 Smallest of solid components of blood
 Synthesized in red marrow
 Not cells; fragments of megakaryocytes
 Necessary for the initiation of the blood
clotting process
Thrombocytes
Coagulation
Cut or injuryplatelets and injured tissue
release Thromboplastinact on
Prothrombin in plasma+ Calcium ions
converts to Thrombinthe thrombin acts as
an enzyme and changes FibrinogenFibrin
creating a mesh that traps red blood cells,
platelets and plasma creating a blood clot.
Coagulation Cont.
 Anticoagulants prevent blood clotting
 Heparin= anti-prothrombin
 Prothrombin= dependent on Vitamin K
Test your gray matter…
Leukocytes have the ability to
squeeze through the intercellular
spaces of capillary walls to fight
infection in neighboring tissues.
This process is called?
Diapedesis
What condition exists when
O2 is crowded out of the
hemoglobin ,eventually
depriving cells of their O2
supply, that is sometimes
fatal?
Carbon Monoxide
poisoning
When there is
inflammation in the body,
chemical substances travel
to the hypothalamus,
causing the body
temperature to increase.
What is the medical term
for this condition?
Pyrexia
The liquid portion of the blood
without cellular components is
called:
Plasma
Which of the following is not
a plasma protein?
Hemoglobin, fibrinogen,
albumin or globulin
Hemoglobin
What are two important
electrolytes found in blood
plasma?
NACL and K+
What type of blood is
bioconcave and shaped
somewhat like a donut?
Erythrocyte
Hemoglobin is composed of:
Which of the following is an
example of a leukocyte?
Platelet, Prothrombin,
Neutrophil, Antibody
The main function of
leukocytes is to:
The main function of
erythrocytes is to:
Fight infection
Carry oxygen
The medical term for platelet
is:
The average adult usually
carries how many quarts of
blood?
Thrombocyte
Protein and iron
5-6
What type of blood cell can
be granular, agranular,
translucent or ameboid in
shape? Leukocyte
Erythrocytes contain all of
the following elements
EXCEPT: The RH factor,
Phagocytosis, Hemoglobin,
Oxyhemoglobin
Phagocytosis
Fibrinogen and
prothrombin are
blood proteins that
are necessary for:
Blood
Clotting
WBC destroy
bacteria by
surrounding,
engulfing, and
digesting the
bacteria. What is
the process called?
Phagocytosis
Why is arterial
blood bright red?
Which of the following
statements about
prothrombin is NOT
true? It is a part of the
clotting process
It is dependent on Vit.
K, It is manufactured in
the liver, It is the
smallest of the blood
cells
Because they
carry
oxyhemoglobin
It is the
smallest of the
blood cells