13b spleen

Question 1

Diagnosis of an enlarged

spleen is often made by

Answer 1

physical examination or by
X-rays, CT scan, MRI, or
ultrasound

Question 2

} The spleen (cont’d)
• Assessment and treatment
(symptoms, and history)

Answer 2

• May be vague/non-specific symptoms such as fatigue,
fever, syncope or dyspnoea on exertion
• Note new fever, weakness, cough, rash, dyspnoea,
increased/unusual bruising, spontaneous bleeding
from GIT/GUT
• History – family Hx, alcohol intake, medications
(including herbal)

Question 3

Haematocrit

Answer 3

is a measure of the percentage of

red blood cells to the total blood volume.

Question 4

When a sample of blood is spun in a centrifuge,

Answer 4

cells are separated from the liquid (plasma – 55%
of volume) and the haematocrit is the packed red
cell volume.

Question 5

Normal haematocrit values

Answer 5

M_40 - 50%

F_ 36 - 46%

Question 6

Two types of haematopoietic tissue.

Answer 6

1. Myeloid

2. Lymphoid

Question 7

1. Myeloid

Answer 7

(found in bone marrow)

Question 8

Lymphoid

Answer 8

found in mucosa of respiratory and
digestive tracts, and lymph nodes such as spleen and
thymus.

Question 9

All blood cells come

Answer 9

directly or indirectly from bone

marrow.

Question 10

Some blood cell mature in bone marrow, others mature

Answer 10

in lymphoid tissues outside the bone marrow.

Question 11

Bone marrow iIt is composed of stromal cells and stem cells, which are the progenitors of all
five blood cell lineages.

Answer 11

is the spongy, soft tissue that fills the hollow spaces within cancellous (spongy)
bone.

Question 12

Bone marrow is composed

Answer 12

of stromal cells and stem cells, which are the progenitors of all
five blood cell lineages.

Question 13

Haematopoiesis

Answer 13

is the main function of the bone marrow. It also filters aging RBCs and
houses immune cells (e.g., plasma cells).

Question 14

Red bone marrow, located in ??

and mainly

Answer 14

active, under normal circumstances produces blood cells. Located primarily in flat bones,
sternum, skull, vertebrae, scapulae, and pelvic bones. Mainly haematopoietic →
haemoglobin of RBC progenitors → red colour

Question 15

Yellow in bone marrow, located in?

mainly?

Answer 15

: inactive, BUT can take over in an emergency to produce red marrow. Located
primarily in long bones (femur, tibia, humerus and in the shaft and diaphysis)
Mainly fatty tissue → yellow colour. Not hematopoietic (can transform into red marrow if
necessary)

Question 16

Each cell stage in bone marrow

Answer 16

has a special name.