Meet the Cytes
These biconcave delivery trucks cruise through your bloodstream carrying oxygen. No GPS required.
What are RBCs/erythrocytes?
Only A antigens decorate these red blood cells. Apparently, the B invitation got lost.
What is type A blood?
These anti- surface markers help identify a red blood cell’s type. Think name tags, microscopic edition.
What are antigens?
No monkeying around with this blood-group factor +/- addition.
What is the Rh factor?
Donated blood or blood components enter another person’s circulation through this "across" procedure.
What is a blood transfusion?
Infection enters the body, and these “-cytes” report for defense duty.
What are WBCs/leukocytes?
Wearing B antigens exclusively, this blood type keeps its surface branding simple.
What is type B blood?
These immune proteins recognize specific targets. In an incompatible transfusion, they can bind to donor red blood cells on opposite day.
What are antibodies?
This is a priceless donor to have around in the case of blood equity for all.
What is Universal Donor (O+/O-)
An A− patient needs red blood cells. Only this alternate type is compatible.
What is O negative, or O−?
A paper cut opens the floodgates. These tiny cell fragments help plug the leak.
What are platelets/thrombocytes?
Both A and B antigens made the guest list on these red blood cells.
What is type AB blood?
Opposites attract when type A blood carries these antibodies in its plasma.
What are anti-B antibodies?
An A antigen is present, but the Rh antigen is absent to form this type.
What is A negative, or A−?
A B− patient can receive RBCs from these two ABO/Rh types. Name both members of the compatible club.
What are B− and O−?
Blood cells float through this liquid transportation network, which also carries nutrients and proteins.
What is plasma?
No A or B antigens appear on these red blood cells—but that does not mean they lack every antigen.
What is type O blood?
A type O patient’s plasma normally contains this two-member antibody security team.
What are anti-A & anti-B antibodies?
With no A, B, or Rh antigens, these donor red blood cells earn the “universal donor” nickname.
What is O negative/O−?
Someone declares O+ the universal red-cell donor. This antigen on O+ cells is the reason that claim does not hold up.
What is the Rh antigen?
This iron-containing hitchhiker rides inside a biconcave erythrocyte, giving oxygen a lift around the body.
What is hemoglobin?
Combine the four ABO groups plus Rh + & - status, you get this many common blood types.
What is 8?
This microscopic traffic jam occurs when antibodies link them together.
What is agglutination?
This recipient has A, B, and Rh antigens and can receive red blood cells from all eight common types. Quite the open-door policy.
What is AB positive/AB+?
An AB− patient welcomes every ABO group, provided the Rh status stays negative. These four types qualify.
What are A−, B−, AB−, and O−?