Final answer:
The CBC fishbone diagram is a medical tool that visualizes blood test results and helps identify different components of blood including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The colored shapes on red blood cells represent molecules of hemoglobin, which transport oxygen. Other components like platelets and white blood cells play roles in clotting and immune response respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The CBC (Complete Blood Count) fishbone diagram is a visual representation often used in the medical field to quickly convey the results of a blood test. When discussing red blood cells, or erythrocytes, Figure 17.2.8 and related images such as Figure 11.26.1 illustrate that these cells are typically donut-shaped without a central nucleus and play a crucial role in transporting oxygen throughout the body. The colored shapes on the surface of these cells in diagrams represent molecules of hemoglobin, which is a protein responsible for binding and carrying oxygen. This hemoglobin changes color based on its oxygen saturation: bright red when oxygen-rich and a more dusky red when oxygen-depleted, as noted in Figure 18.2.
In addition to erythrocytes, Figure 17.2.8 represents two other types of blood cells: platelets and white blood cells, or leukocytes. Platelets, as shown in Figure 11.26.4, are small disc-shaped pieces that are critical for blood clotting. They are formed from fragments of larger cells found in the bone marrow. White blood cells are depicted as rough-surfaced and round, and are essential for the body's immune response, as they help in fighting off infections. The actual count and ratio of these cells can be significant in diagnosing various medical conditions, which can be determined from analyzing blood smears as suggested in Figure 18.13.