Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are the three main components of blood. Red blood cells transport oxygen and carbon dioxide, white blood cells provide immunity, and platelets help with clotting to stop bleeding. The document discusses the structure and function of each blood component in detail over several pages.

1. BLOOD CELL
PHYSIOLOGY
Prepared and Presented by:
Amany M. Elshamy
Teaching Lecturer of Biochemistry
High Institute of Applied Medical Sciences
Badr Academy

2. OUTLINES
• Blood and Its function
• Plasma and its component
• Red blood cells
• White blood cells (Immune System)
• Thrombocytes
• Hemostasis

3. HOW TO STUDY
Introduction and cell
physiology (Lectures 1 and
2) See the book
Pages 3- 23.
Blood Lecture ( Lecture 3)
Pages 41- 46.

4. BLOOD
Blood is an
extracellular matrix
tissue fluid that
circulates through
the cardiovascular
system.

5. BLOOD
• The blood is a
transport liquid that
carry Nutrients,
Oxygen and
receives the waste
products of
metabolism from the
body to the organs
of excretion.

6. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
BLOOD
• Thicker than water
• A Blood volume: 7% - 8 % of the
human body weight .
 70 mL/kg of body weight. (5-6 liters
in males; 4 - 5 liters in females).
• Temperature - 100.40F/370 c
• pH - 7.35 to 7.45.

7. BLOODFUNCTION
Regulation
Immunity
Hemostasis
Transportation

8. BLOOD FUNCTION
1. Transportation (Nutrients,
gases, waste products, ions,
enzymes, hormones … etc).
2. Regulation (PH 7.35-7.45) and
plasma osmotic pressure
(Albumin, sodium chloride).

9. BLOOD FUNCTION
4. Maintenance
(Temperature/Thermal).
5.Immunity ( defensed against
pathogens and toxins).
6. Hemostasis (stop bleeding).

10. Components:
1. Plasma
2. Erythrocytes(RBCs)
3. Leucocytes (WBCs)
4. Thrombocytes
(PLTs)
BLOOD COMPONENT
Blood cells are
suspended in the
plasma matrix.

11. BLOOD COMPONENT
1. Plasma:
Plasma contains 90-91 % of water
and 10% of Ions, proteins, gases,
carbohydrates, fats, hormones,
vitamins, and enzymes.

12. Essential proteins for
normal cell function
Essential ions for normal cell
function
8.5 - 10.5 mg/dl
135 - 145
(mEq/L)
3.6 - 5.2 mmol/L
98-106 mmol/L
1.7 - 2.2 mg/dL
2.5 - 4.5 mg/dL
0.0004 mEq/L
PLASMA COMPONENT

13. Albumin is the most important
protein in plasma that maintaining
the osmotic pressure, carries
molecule and transporting
compounds.
Other blood proteins carry
vitamins, minerals, and lipids.
PLASMA COMPONENT

14. PLASMA VS SERUM
SerumPlasma
• Is the fluid that remains after
a clot has formed.
Use: Don't use anticoagulant.
• Color: clear and straw
colored (lacks
fibrinogen group coagulation
proteins).
• Is the liquid portion of
unclotted blood.
• Use: anticoagulant
• Color: hazy and pale yellow

15. 1. Erythrocytes(RBCs)
2. Leucocytes (WBCs)
3. Thrombocytes
(PLTs)

16. HEMATOPOIESIS
• Hematopoiesis: is the formation,
development and differentiation
of all types of blood cells.
• Origin: Bone Marrow (BM)

17. ACTIVE RED MARROW HEMATOPOIESIS
{THE STERNUM, VERTEBRAE, SCAPULAE, PELVIS,
RIBS, SKULL, AND PROXIMAL PORTION OF THE LONG
BONES}

18. HEMATOPOIESIS
• Hematopoiesis begins at the 18th
day after fertilization in the yolk
sac of the human embryo.
• The cells made in the yolk sac
include erythrocytes and a few
macrophages.

20. HEMATOPOIESIS
• Undifferentiated
hematopoietic stem cells
(HSCs) (precursor cells)
proliferate and differentiate
under the influence of
proteins that affect their
function (cytokines).

21. HEMATOPOIESIS
• When the cell
reaches maturity,
it is released into
the peripheral
blood.
Hematopoietic stem
cells
Hematopoietic progenitor
cells
Maturing cells

23. HEMATOPOIESIS

24. BLOOD CELL
COMPONENTS

25. ERYTHROPOIESIS
Regulated by:
1. Bone marrow
2. Erythropoietin (EPO) produced in
the kidney and small amount by
Liver.
3. Androgens (male hormones that
enhance the activity of
erythropoietin).

26. ERYTHROPOIESIS
Regulated by:
1. Hypoxia ( high altitudes, heart or
lung dysfunction, anemia).
2. Alkalosis (PH > 7.45)

27. SUBSTANCES NEEDED:
1. Iron: Must be in the ferrous state
(Fe2+) to transport oxygen.
2. Amino acids: Globin-chain
synthesis.
3. Folic acid/vitamin B12: DNA
replication/cell division.
4. Others: vitamin B6 (pyridoxine),
trace minerals.

29. RBCS FUNCTION
• The primary function of
erythrocytes is to combine with
oxygen in the lungs and to
transport it to the various tissues
of the body.
• And It then combines with carbon
dioxide in tissues and transports it
to the lungs (oxidative
metabolism).

30. • 33% of cytoplasm is hemoglobin (HB):
 Deliver O2 to tissue and transport CO2 to
lungs.
• Carbonic anhydrase (CAH) in
cytoplasm: produces carbonic acid
from CO2 and water and
contributes to acid-base balance
by binding and releasing hydrogen
ions (PH 7.35-7.45).
RBCS FUNCTION

31. RBC FORM AND
FUNCTION
• Elasticity: presence of a narrow
passage (capillaries).
• The membrane maintains extreme
differences in osmotic pressure,
cation (K+,Na+& Ca++) and gas
concentrations between external
plasma and the cytoplasm.

32. RBCS MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
RBCs are composed of a network of
protein (called stroma), cytoplasm,
carbohydrates, lipid and a red pigment
called hemoglobin.

33. RBCS MEMBRANE
Protein
52%
Lipid
40%
carbohydrate
8%
Composition
Negative charge
Transmembrane(integral)
and cytoskeletal
(skeletal, peripheral)
Bilayer
• Transport
• Adhesion
• Signaling
receptors
• Membrane
stability
Repulsion

34. RBCS MEMBRANE
FUNCTION
• Glycolipids: prevents microbial
attack and protects the RBC from
mechanical damage and provide
blood group antigens (ABO
group).

35. ERYTHROCYTES
• The mature erythrocyte is measured 80–
100 fL in volume.
• Mature erythrocytes lack the cellular
organelles (ribosomes, mitochondria).

36. ERYTHROCYTES
The erythrocyte = Red
blood cell (RBC) has no
nucleus so, they do not
divide.
Shape: like biconcave
disc
Diameter: 7~8 μm

37. ERYTHROCYTES
• RBC reference
ranges in SI units:
Females 4.0 - 5.4 X
1012/L
Males 4.6 - 6.0 X
1012/L
• Life time: 100-120
days

38. HEMOGLOBIN STRUCTURE
Hemoglobin is the
dominant protein in the
cytoplasmic content of
RBCs (33% of cell’s
volume).
4 identical heme groups
and 4 globin (polypeptide)
chains and protoporphyrin
IX ring.

39. HEMOGLOBIN STRUCTURE
Four globin (polypeptide) chains
A. 2 Alpha chains have 141 amino acids.
B. 2 non Alpha chain have 146 amino
acids.

40. HEMOGLOBIN STRUCTURE
When the ferrous irons are oxidized
to the ferric state (Fe3), they no longer
can bind oxygen (is also called
methemoglobin).
• HB carries oxygen (oxyhemoglobin)
• HB not carrying oxygen (reduced
hemoglobin )

41. HEMOGLOBIN STRUCTURE
Adult Male: 13 to 18 (g/dL)
Adult Female: 12 to 16 g/dL

43. LEUKOCYTES
 WBCs are able to slip into
and out of the blood vessels
(by process called
diapedesis) for the site of
infection to inflammatory or
immune responses .

44. VIDEO

45. LEUKOCYTES
• Also known as White Blood
Cells (WBCs).
• Leukocytes develop from
hematopoietic stem cells
(HSCs) in the bone marrow.

46. LEUKOCYTES
Leukocytes
Myeloid Lymphoid
Esinophil
Lymphocyte
MonocyteBasophilNeutrophil
Granulocytes
Mononuclearcells

47. The two major types of WBCs

48. Main function:
 Defense against the foreign
pathogens such as bacteria and
viruses (pass through intact vessel
walls).
 WBC reference range (SI units) 4.0-
11.0 X 109/L
 (conventional units 4.0-11.0 Xl0 3/ µL).
LEUKOCYTES

49. A. GRANULOCYTES
• Neutrophils: the first cell that reaches
to the site of infection and
phagocytize (destroy) pathogen.
• Neutrophils are part of the innate
immune system.
 Mechanism ??? ( Innate immunity
Lect).

50. 1. SEGMENTED
NEUTROPHIL
• Mature/segmented Neutrophils
also known as
polymorphonuclear cells
(PMNs).
• Size: 10-15 μm
• Nucleus: has coarse, clumped
chromatin with 3-5 lobes
connected by thin filaments.

51. 1. SEGMENTED
NEUTROPHIL
• Cytoplasm: is pink and filled
with small, pale blue to pink
granules.
leukocytes relative number in the
peripheral blood of adults : 50%
to 70%.
Absolute count : 2.3 to 7.5 109/L
(adult).

52. 2. EOSINOPHIL
Eosinophils modulate the allergic
response (ex; parasitic infections,
allergic conditions).
Size : 12-16 µm.
Nucleus: bilobed.
Cytoplasm: large, bright red-orange
granules.
Normal value: 1- 3% and absolute
number: up to 0.4 109/L

53. 3. BASOPHILIC
Basophil is interact with Eosinophil in
allergic conditions and release
inflammatory substances (e; Histamine,
Heparin ….).
Size: 10-15µm
Cytoplasm: large granules
(purple-black).
In peripheral Blood: up to 1% (0.01 - 0.1
109/L).

54. B. AGRANULOCYTES
• Also known as Mononuclear cells.
• Lack visible cytoplasmic granules.
• Examples: lymphocytes and
monocytes.

55. MONOCYTES
• Monocyte is the largest mature cell in
PBF (peripheral blood film), once it
enters into tissue, it is termed as
Macrophage or histocyte according to its
location in the body.
Size in PB: 12-20 µm

56. MONOCYTES
Monocytes : Myeloid cell lineages.
Make up 2-10% of PB (0.2-1.0 109/L).
Nucleus: Horseshoe- or kidney-bean-
shaped
Cytoplasm: Blue-grey

57. LYMPHOCYTES
Small lymphocytes: 7-9 μm
Large lymphocytes: 12-16 μm
The primary functions of lymphocytes
are to recognize and react with specific
antigens, work with macrophages to
eliminate pathogens, and provide long-
lasting immunity. Lymphocytes
Monocyte

58. • They are the source of serum
immunoglobulins and cellular immune
response.
Two types of lymphocytes:
• B lymphocyte : Humoral immunity
(outside the infected cells ex; Ag-Ab RX).
• T lymphocyte : Cellular immunity (inside
the infected cells ex; Viral infection).
LYMPHOCYTES

59. LYMPHOCYTES
Adaptive immune response
Lymphocytes: Lymphoid cell
lineages.
Make up 20-40% of PB (1.2 - 4.0
109/L).
Lymphocytes
Monocyte

60. LYMPHOCYTES
Cytoplasm: medium blue
Nucleus: dark blue
round dense chromatin
Monocyte

61. ABNORMALITIES NeutropeniaNeutrophilia
1. Typhoid
fever
2. Viral
diseases
- Acute
infection
- Bacterial
infection
lymphocytosis
1. viral infections
2. Tuberculosis.
3. Typhoid fever
4. Lymphocytic
leukemiaEsinophilia
• Allergic reactions
such as hay fever,
asthma, or drug
hypersensitivity.
• Parasitic infection
Monocytosis
• Tuberculosis
• Brucellosis
• Malaria
• Monocytic leukemia

63. THROMBOCYTES
Thrombocytes= Mature Platelets (PLTs)
 Origin: Myeloid progenitor cell in
response to growth factor
Thrombopoietin, gives rise to
Megakaryocytes.
• Mature platelets have no nucleus.
 Reference range (SI units) is 150,000 -
450,000 µL.

64. THROMBOCYTES
Size: 2-4 µm
Appearing as purple blue cells in stained
blood film.
Life span: 8-12 days.

65. THROMBOCYTES
Platelet functions:
1. Maintenance of Vascular Integrity.
2. Formation of the Primary Hemostatic
Plug.
3. Accelerate thrombin formation. ?

67. HEMOSTASIS
Hemostasis is the property of the
circulation that maintains blood as a
fluid within the blood vessels under
normal circumstances and the system’s
ability to prevent excessive blood loss
upon injury.
Platelets are necessary for maintaining
hemostasis.

69. HEMOSTASIS
1) Constriction of the blood vessel.
2) Formation of a temporary “platelet
plug."
3) Activation of the coagulation
cascade.
4) Formation of “fibrin plug” or the
final clot.

73. SUMMARY