Introduction of Hematology 1

• For vessel injury, the first formed elements that would go into the injured vessel would be the platelets.
• The purpose of platelets is to temporarily stop the bleeding at the site of injury.
• For patients with anemia, erythrocytes will not meet the life span of 120 days.
• The Buffer System in blood maintains the pH level by neutralizing hydronium ion and hydronium ion once neutralized, forms carbonic acid.
• Phosphate in blood maintains the pH of blood.
• Blood has three layers: Buffer System, Carbonate, and Phosphate.
• Granulocytes are cells with granules.
• Carbonate in blood prevents the pH of blood from being acidic.
• Erythrocytes, where hemoglobin is located, have many formed elements and its life span is for 120 days for healthy individuals.
• Hemoglobin in blood binds to small amount of acid.
• Red blood cells (RBCs) are matured red blood cells.
• In 1902, the development of Wrights stain (commonly used in hematology) by James Homer Wright was established.
• In 1842, platelets (thrombocytes) were described by Von Leuwenhoek.
• In 1674, Jan Swammerdam described human erythrocytes.
• Plasma consists of a buffy coat composed of WBCs and platelets, plasma, proteins, and other substances.
• Analyses of the concentrations, structure and function of the cells in the blood are conducted.
• Peripheral Blood Smear (PBS) checks the morphology of the cell.
• Precursors in the bone marrow are examined.
• Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) checks the rate of the RBCs in an hour.
• In 1920, hematology was considered a separate science from clinical pathology.
• In 1658, Jan Swammerdam discovered erythrocytes.
• Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis are topics in history.
• The buffy coat has three layers: the upper layer is the lightest and composed of the platelets, the middle layer is composed of Agranulocytes (MONALISA), and the lower layer is composed of Granulocytes (BEN).
• In 1879, the first complete classification of leukocytes by Ehrlich was established: Granulocytes (BEN) and Agranulocytes (MONALISA).
• Chemical constituents of plasma/serum function platelets and proteins involved in hemostasis are analyzed.
• In 1846, PMN (polymorphonuclear) were distinguished from other leukocytes (WBCs) by Wharton Jones.
• In 1657, Athanasius Kircher described worms in the blood.
• Proteins in plasma include albumin, which maintains the osmotic balance between the blood and tissue fluid, and globulin, which fights infection.
• White Blood Cell (WBC) counting the number of WBC in a liter of blood.
• Blood is a life sustaining fluid which circulates through the heart and blood vessels, carrying oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and waste products like Urea and Creatinine to the lungs, liver and kidney where they can be removed from the body.
• Liquid plasma is composed of approximately 55% protein, 7% fibrinogen, the main clotting protein, 7% albumin, and 7% globulin.
• The pH of blood is slightly alkaline, maintained at 7.4 by sodium bicarbonate.
• Blood flow is the process where venous blood returns to the heart, and arterial blood leaves the heart, going through the heart, arteries, capillaries, veins, and returning to the heart.
• Blood makes up 6 - 8% of the total body component or 60 - 80ml/kg.
• Approximately 20 gms solid per 100 ml.
• In vivo, blood is in a fluid state, but in vitro it coagulates in 5 - 10 minutes.
• Plasma is composed of approximately 90% water and contains proteins, enzymes, hormones, lipids and salts, and is normally hazy and pale yellow.
• The normal range for blood pH is 7.35 - 7.40.
• RBC stands for Red Blood Cell, which is used to count the number of RBC in a liter of blood.
• Blood composition includes formed elements including erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets and plasma, and the liquid portion of unclotted blood, known as plasma.