Hematology

They contain many structures that are critical to stop bleeding. They contain proteins on their surface that allow them to stick to breaks in the blood vessel wall and also to stick to each other. They contain granules that can secrete other proteins required for creating a firm plug to seal blood vessel breaks. Also platelets contain proteins similar to muscle proteins that allow them to change shape when they become sticky.

Manganese is a naturally occurring element and an essential nutrient. ECF contains large amounts of sodium, chloride ions and moderate amounts of bicarbonate ions. Potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphate ions are present in very minute quantities. But manganese is not present in ECF.

Albumin produced only in the liver is the major plasma protein that circulates in the bloodstream. One of the functions of albumin is to maintain intravascular oncotic (colloid osmotic) pressure. To facilitate movement of fluid throughout the body the average capillary pressure is 15 to 25 mm Hg, greater at the arterial end than at the venous end. Serum albumin carries and delivers important nutrients to cells. It binds toxins to avoid toxic effects, binds excessive proteins to act as a buffer and binds hormones and growth peptides to keep them stable.

Erythrocytes also known as red blood cells (RBCs) function to transport oxygen in the blood. Mammalian erythrocytes are typically shaped as biconcave disks that is flattened and depressed in the center, with a dumbbell shaped cross section and a torus shaped rim on the edge of the disk. Oxygen transport is efficient because the cells have a flattened disc shape to increase surface area allowing rapid diffusion of oxygen and they contain haemoglobin which absorbs oxygen in the lungs and releases oxygen in the rest of the body.

Blood is salty tasty. The salt taste of blood comes from the salts, minerals and iron present in human blood. So the blood of normal persons is salty only, but it has sweet taste in some persons suffering from diabetes. As the blood of a diabetic person will contain much sugar than a normal person the blood is tasting sweety.

A phagosome is a vesicle formed around a particle absorbed by phagocytosis. The vacuole is formed by the fusion of the cell membrane around the particle. When a macrophage ingests a pathogen the pathogen becomes trapped in a phagosome which then fuses with a lysosome. A phagosome is a cellular compartment in which pathogenic microorganisms can be killed and digested.

Red blood cells are also known as RBCs, red cells, red blood corpuscles, haematids, erythroid cells or erythrocytes. In humans mature red blood cells are oval and flexible biconcave disks. They lack a cell nucleus and most organelles to accommodate maximum space for haemoglobin. Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder in which red blood cell is abnormally shaped. This abnormality can result in painful episodes, serious infections, chronic anemia and damage to body organs.

Blood is made in the bone marrow and also in the spleen. Red blood cells only live for about 120 days. They are then cleared out by the spleen. Following removal of the spleen, the liver primarily takes over the role of filtering out the older red blood cells. Other organs may also contribute to red cell removal such as heart. However these other organs cannot completely compensate for the loss of the spleen.

Pus is an exudate typically white-yellow, yellow or yellow-brown formed at the site of inflammation during infection. An accumulation of pus in an enclosed tissue space is known as an abscess whereas a visible collection of pus within or beneath the epidermis is known as a pustule or pimple. Neutrophils are very active in phagocytosing bacteria and are present in large amount in the pus of wounds.

Macrophages are cells produced by the differentiation of monocytes in tissues. Amoeboid movement is a crawling type of movement in which the cell forms temporary cytoplasmic projections called pseudopodia (false feet) towards the front of the cell. Leukocytes like phagocytes or macrophages of the lymph show amoeboid movements to engulf antigen or microbes and to immigrate in the circulatory fluid.

Cytokines are small proteins which allow cells of the immune system to communicate with one another via cytokine receptors expressed at the cell surface. Interleukin 6 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and is produced by macrophages in response to infection and tissue injury. IL-6 exerts its effects on multiple cell types and can act systemically.

The amount of blood loss that may lead to complications depends on the individual person. It is affected by factors such as body size and the presence of certain health conditions such as anemia. Blood count means how much of the oxygen carrying haemoglobin is present in blood. If the count is too low due to heavy blood loss, there is not enough oxygen to be carried to the tissues and the patient will die. Both internal and external bleeding can lead to serious complications.

Hemocyanins are respiratory proteins in the form of metalloproteins containing two copper atoms that reversibly bind a single oxygen molecule (O₂). Oxygenation causes a colour change between the colourless Cu(I) deoxygenated form and the blue Cu(II) oxygenated form. Unlike the hemoglobin in red blood cells found in vertebrates, hemocyanins are not bound to blood cells but are instead suspended directly in the haemolymph.

Haematocrit is a measure of the percentage of red blood cells to the total blood volume. It is also called packed cell volume or PCV. It is used to evaluate anemia, blood loss, haemolytic anemia, and polycythemia.

Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin, so your body stores it in fat tissue and the liver. It is best known for its role in helping blood clot or coagulates properly. Blood clotting factors are needed for blood to clot (coagulation). Prothrombin or factor II is one of the clotting factors made by the liver. Vitamin K is needed to make prothrombin and other clotting factors.