Basic Hematology Study Guide (complete) Flashcards
Describe the make-up of blood?
Plasma (55%)-Proteins, Water
<1% Platelets, leukocytes
Formed Elements (45%(erythrocytes)
What is included in the plasma proteins
Plasma - Proteins (7%)
-Albumin, Globulins, Fibrinogen
Water (91%)
Other solutes (2%)
What is hematopoiesis?
Formation of white blood cells, RBC, and platelets
What cells come from myeloid cells?
Thrombocytes (platelets)- Large megakaryocytes which come from myeloid stem cells
What cells come from lymphoid cells?
B Lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, NKC
What is erythropoiesis?
Happens in the Bone Marrow
-Leads to synthesis of mature RBCs
What are the different components of RBC lab studies? What do they mean?
- Hemoglobin
- Hematocrit
- Mean corpuscular volume (MCV): Size of RBC
- Red cell distribution width (RDW): Range in size & shape of RBC
- Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC): Concentration of Hgb (color)
- Mean cell hemoglobin (MCH): Mass of RBC
- Platelets
Why do people with chronic lung disease often have increased RBC count?
People with chronic lung disease, like COPD, often have an increased red blood cell (RBC) count because their body produces more red blood cells as a compensatory response to chronic low oxygen levels (hypoxemia) caused by impaired lung function, essentially trying to carry more oxygen with the increased RBCs; this phenomenon is known as secondary polycythemia.
What happens to the RBC when it is ready to die? What happens to the iron?
Phagocytic cells in spleen, liver, bone marrow and lymph nodes.
Recycle – iron and amino acids from globin chains.
Heme → bilirubin →transported attached to plasma proteins → liver rendered water soluble to be eliminated.
What does an increase in reticulocyte count mean after someone has experienced blood loss?
Online: An increased reticulocyte count after blood loss indicates that your bone marrow is producing more red blood cells to replace those lost. This is a normal response to blood loss.
What is a blast cell?
Immature neutrophil
What is a band?
From online: an immature white blood cell, specifically a type of neutrophil with a non-segmented, band-shaped nucleus, which is released into the bloodstream when the body is fighting an infection or inflammation
What does a shift to the left mean?
Increaed numbers of immature neutrophils
-Most common cause is inflammation
-Can also be seen in some marrow disorders (leukemia) or severe bone marrow injury
What are the different components of WBC lab studies? What do they mean?
White Blood Cells (WBC)
Neutrophils
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
Eosinophils
Basophils
Immature Granulocytes, Absolute
Neutrophils, Absolute
What are all the roles of the macrophage?
Play a role in:
-Acute and Chronic inflammation
-immunity
-phagocytosis
Where are the largest numbers of mast cells located?
From online: tissues that interface with the external environment, primarily in the skin and the mucosa of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts
What are the three types of lymphocytes?
B lymphpcytes
T lymphocytes
Natural Killer Cells
What is a megakaryocyte?
(Thrombocytes-platelets) large cell found in the bone marrow that is responsible for producing blood platelets, which are crucial for blood clotting (come from meyeloid stem cells)
- Form the platelet plug
What is thrombocytopenia?
Abnormally low platelet count
What is thrombocytosis?
abnormally high platelet count in the blood
How long do platelets live?
about a week
What are the skin changes that may be seen with a low platelet count?
Petechiae
Purpura
Ecchymosis
Spontaneous bleeding (Nosebleed (Epistaxis))
What other symptoms can be seen with thrombocytopenia?
heavy menstrual bleeding?
Bleeding gums or nosebleeds
Bleeding that lasts a long time
Blood in the urine, stool, mucus, or vomit
What is the role of the spleen
-“Graveyard of RBC’s”
-Removed aged, lysed, and dead RBCs from circulation and in the spleen, RBCs are broken down into their component parts, which are recycled to make new RBC’s
- Sequesters abnormally shaped and ehmolyzed RBC’s and destroys them
Splenomegaly- occurs when there is a large about of RBC breakdown occuring in the body
