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BIO 140 Human Biology I - Questions and Solutions

Leukocytes and Platelets - Solutions

Review Questions

1. The process by which leukocytes squeeze through adjacent cells in a blood vessel wall is called ________.

  1. leukocytosis
  2. positive chemotaxis
  3. emigration
  4. cytoplasmic extending

2. Which of the following describes a neutrophil?

  1. abundant, agranular, especially effective against cancer cells
  2. abundant, granular, especially effective against bacteria
  3. rare, agranular, releases antimicrobial defensins
  4. rare, granular, contains multiple granules packed with histami

3. T and B lymphocytes ________.

  1. are polymorphonuclear
  2. are involved with specific immune function
  3. proliferate excessively in leukopenia
  4. are most active against parasitic worms

4. A patient has been experiencing severe, persistent allergy symptoms that are reduced when she takes an antihistamine. Before the treatment, this patient was likely to have had increased activity of which leukocyte?

  1. basophils
  2. neutrophils
  3. monocytes
  4. natural killer cells

5. Thrombocytes are more accurately called ________.

  1. clotting factors
  2. megakaryoblasts
  3. megakaryocytes
  4. platelets

 

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Critical Thinking Questions

1. One of the more common adverse effects of cancer chemotherapy is the destruction of leukocytes. Before his next scheduled chemotherapy treatment, a patient undergoes a blood test called an absolute neutrophil count (ANC), which reveals that his neutrophil count is 1900 cells per microliter. Would his healthcare team be likely to proceed with his chemotherapy treatment? Why?

Solution: A neutrophil count below 1800 cells per microliter is considered abnormal. Thus, this patient’s ANC is at the low end of the normal range and there would be no reason to delay chemotherapy. In clinical practice, most patients are given chemotherapy if their ANC is above 1000.

2. A patient was admitted to the burn unit the previous evening suffering from a severe burn involving his left upper extremity and shoulder. A blood test reveals that he is experiencing leukocytosis. Why is this an expected finding?

Solution: Any severe stress can increase the leukocyte count, resulting in leukocytosis. A burn is especially likely to increase the proliferation of leukocytes in order to ward off infection, a significant risk when the barrier function of the skin is destroyed.

 

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OpenStax, Leukocytes and Platelets. OpenStax CNX. Feb 25, 2016 http://cnx.org/contents/df109c81-f215-4a89-b366-98aba0123289@6. © Feb 25, 2016 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 license.