Characteristics of Normal Human Blood

Characteristics of Normal Red Blood Cells (RBC’s) Disc shaped Disc shaped They stain red They stain red Contain no nucleus as mature cells Contain no nucleus as mature cells We have about 5 million rbc’s/mm 3 (a drop of blood) and live to 125 days. We have about 5 million rbc’s/mm 3 (a drop of blood) and live to 125 days.

Normal Human RBC’s- (Electron microscope-color)

Characteristics of Normal White Blood Cells (WBC’s) Contain a single nucleus Contain a single nucleus Twice as large as an RBC Twice as large as an RBC They stain blue or purple They stain blue or purple Blood contains 10,000 wbc/mm 3 and live for 9 days. Blood contains 10,000 wbc/mm 3 and live for 9 days.

White Blood Cell

Characteristics of Normal Platelets Contain one to many nuclei Contain one to many nuclei They occur in ‘clumps’ They occur in ‘clumps’ Stain deep blue/purple Stain deep blue/purple Blood contains 140,000 to 400,000 platelets/mm 3 and they live for 10 days Blood contains 140,000 to 400,000 platelets/mm 3 and they live for 10 days

Platelets

What’s Wrong With this Blood?

Blood Slide 1: Normal human blood

Blood Slide 2-sickle cell anemia

FACTS Inherited Inherited RBCs rupture easily RBCs rupture easily Results in extreme fatigue Results in extreme fatigue Provides protection against malaria Provides protection against malaria

Blood Slide 3: Anemia Normal

FACTS Usually caused by diet low in iron Usually caused by diet low in iron Less hemoglobin means less oxygen carried Less hemoglobin means less oxygen carried Results in fatigue Results in fatigue

Blood Slide 4: African Sleeping Sickness (Trypanosoma)

FACTS Caused by protozoan. Caused by protozoan. Transmitted through the bite of a tsetse fly (Africa) Transmitted through the bite of a tsetse fly (Africa) Protozoan rapidly divides in the body Protozoan rapidly divides in the body Causes fever, headache, itchiness, joint pain, and death if not treated (about 10,000 per year affected) Causes fever, headache, itchiness, joint pain, and death if not treated (about 10,000 per year affected)

Blood Slide 5: Malaria (Plasmodium) protozoans rbc

Trypanosomiasis

FACTS Caused by a protozoan (Plasmodium) Caused by a protozoan (Plasmodium) Transmitted through a mosquito bite Transmitted through a mosquito bite Parasite destroys cells and infects liver Parasite destroys cells and infects liver Produces strong flu-like symptoms and extreme chills Produces strong flu-like symptoms and extreme chills Can be deadly (2010, 216 million malaria cases in world and about malaria deaths) Can be deadly (2010, 216 million malaria cases in world and about malaria deaths) Tropical disease Tropical disease

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Blood slide 6: bacterial infection WBC (orange) engulfing bacteria WBC (orange) engulfing bacteria RODS

FACTS Bacteria enter blood usually through cut or wound Bacteria enter blood usually through cut or wound Staphylococcus common infection Staphylococcus common infection Bacteria produce toxins which damage cells Bacteria produce toxins which damage cells Can be fatal if not treated with antibiotics Can be fatal if not treated with antibiotics

Blood Slide 7: Leukemia RBC Large immature WBC

FACTS Cancer Cancer Caused by uncontrolled production of WBCs Caused by uncontrolled production of WBCs WBCs build up in tissues and block normal function WBCs build up in tissues and block normal function

Blood Slide 8: Megaloblastic Anemia Very large RBC, malformed

FACTS Usually caused by diet low in vitamin B12 and folic acid (leafy green vegetables) Usually caused by diet low in vitamin B12 and folic acid (leafy green vegetables) Fewer red blood cells means less oxygen carried Fewer red blood cells means less oxygen carried Causes fatigue Causes fatigue