Cell & Tissue

Biology
Laboratory Exercise 6:
Blood
Block Two, 2009
 Slide 5 – peripheral blood,
Giemsa

1. Based on what you’ve learned about the functions of erythrocytes, what conditions
might produce the preature release of reticulocytes from the bone marrow into the
1. peripheral
Some does
What is blood?
cytoskeleton
ofthe
the
the
function
RBC’s
effect
elements
have
of
of the
the
a pale
erythrocyte’s
missing
maintain
staining
nucleus
thecenter,
biconcave
erythrocyte’s
havewhy?
onshape?
theshape?
life span of the erythrocyte?
Hemorrhage,
Because
Actin,
It increases
has anemia,
aankyrin,
limited
there
theisand
lifespan and increased
surface-to-volume
lessspectrin
cellular
of 120 altitude.
material
days.
ratioinfor
this
increased
part. gas exchange.
 Slide 5 – peripheral blood,
Giemsa

Neutrophil
Neutrophils are approximately 10 μm
in diameter. Also note the unstained
1. List two substances within the non-
cytoplasm of the neutrophils.
specific and specific granules of
Neutrophilic granules do not stain 1. What are known functions of
neutrophils?
with either acidic or basic dyes. neutrophils?
Non-specific: acidic hydrolyases,
If the blood sample on your slide was They are “microphages” – kill
1. What lysozyme
is the nuclear
& other
appendage
enzymesin
from a female, one of the nuclear bacteria / parasites through
female neutrophils?
lobes may have a drumstick-shaped phagocytosis.
Specific: They also initiate
alkaline phosphatase,
nuclear appendage. Barrthe inflammatory&response.
aminopeptidase
bodies collagenase

Eosinophils
Eosinophils make up ~1-4% of the
WBC population. They are slighly
larger than neutrophils and have
reddish (eosinophilic) granules within
their cytoplasm. Their cytoplasm
should be darker red or orange
compared to that of RBCs.
A bi-lobed nucleus is a characteristic
feature of eosinophils The specific
(secondary) granules contain major
basic protein (MBP) and other basic
proteins that combat parasites.
Slide 5 – peripheral blood,
Giemsa
• Eosinophils function outside of the
circulation in which tissues? Why are
they in the tissue space rather than in
the blood vessels?
Found in the dermis and the
1. List the functions of eosinophils.
connective tissue components of
• Kill
the respiratory
parasites tree, GI tract,
and uterus & vagina. They are
• Phagocytose Ab:Ag complexes
found in the tissues because
• that’s
Secretewhere the microorganisms
leukotrienes for the
are they need to
inflammatory fight.
response.
 Slide 77 – colon, H&E

Eosinophils
Confirm the presence of eosinophils
in the loose connective tissue just
deep to the epithelium.
 Slide 5 – peripheral blood,
Giemsa

Basophils
Basophils make up <1% of the WBC
1. How might antihistamines affect
population. Basophils are small (8-10
basophils?
μm) containing primary granules and
large specific (secondary) granules. They prevent degranulation
 Slide 6 – bone marrow, Wright

Platelets
Look between the RBCs and you will
see fine dark particles, which will
look like debris. These purple specks
are platelets and may occur singly or
in small groups.
Platelets are also called thrombocytes.
Thrombocytopenia is a condition in
1. How
Whatmany
is the
do younuclei
function
suppose
areofpresent
isplatelets?
the principal
in
which there is an abnormally small
platelets? of thrombocytopenia?
symptom
number of platelets in the peripheral They are involved in blood clot
blood. zero.formation.
Excessive bleeding.
 Slide 6 – bone marrow, Wright

Megakaryocyte 1. How many nuclei are present in

megakaryocytes?
This is a VERY large cell (~100 μm
in diameter) with a lobed nucleus. one.