- Allergy treatment
- Antimicrobials for systemic use
- Antiparasitic drugs
- Cardiovascular system
- Dermatology
- Drugs affecting metabolism
- Drugs used in sensory organ disorders
- Gastrointestinal tract
- Haemopoietic system and blood
- Locomotor system
- Nervous system
- Respiratory system
- Systemic hormones
- Urogenital system and Sexual hormones
Haemopoietic system and blood
- Haemopoietic system overview
- Main symptoms of haemopoietic system disorders
- Hematopoietic drugs
- Drugs affecting hemostasis
Haemopoietic system consists of two main parts - the bone marrow and peripheral blood. The bone marrow is located in the bones, mainly in the flat bones - the sternum, ribs, ilium. Here takes place a very difficult process of formation of all blood elements.
All blood cells originate from a single stem cell that multiplies in the bone marrow, and the development goes in four directions - formation of red blood cells (erythropoiesis), leukocytes (myelopoiesis), lymphocytes (lymphopoiesis) and platelets (thrombocytopoiesis). Only mature cells capable of performing well-defined functions enter the peripheral blood.
What are these mature cells and what functions they perform in the body?
Erythrocytes (often called red blood cells) make up the vast majority of peripheral blood cells. Virtually the entire cell made up of hemoglobin, the substance by which erythrocyte performs its primary task - to bring oxygen into every cell of the body and then to carry away carbon dioxide. Passing through the lungs, red blood cells give way carbon dioxide and receive oxygen. For normal development of red blood cells, the bone marrow must have sufficient iron and vitamin B12.
Leucocytes, or white blood cells are a heterogeneous group of blood cells. They are divided into neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils. The main function of neutrophils is protection through implementation of phagocytosis: they absorb microorganisms and foreign bodies. Eosinophils play a central role in protecting the body against parasitic infections. They are actively involved in the mechanism of development of some diseases bronchial asthma, allergic skin reactions. The importance of basophils in normal conditions is not known. Their functions are associated mainly with allergic reactions.
Lymphocytes are a diverse group of cells. By their origin and functions, lymphocytes are divided into 2 groups: T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes. T-lymphocyte include memory cells that recognize foreign proteins and give the signal for the beginning of the protective (immune) response; T-helpers that stimulate deployment of immunological processes, such as B cells; T-suppressors that inhibit maturation of effector cells, and T-killers- cells-effectors of cellular immunity. B-lymphocytes are differentiated into plasma cells which produce antibodies effecting humoral immunity.
Thrombocytes are blood platelets, the primary function of which is participation in the process of blood clotting. There is evidence that platelets play a role also in the metabolism of cells of blood vessels.
