blood cells - recap phase 1

Question 1

RBC

Answer 1

• bone marrow
• haematopoietic stem cells
• common myeloid progenitor

Question 2

WBC

Answer 2

• bone marrow
• haematopoitec stem cell
• common lymphoid progenitor

Question 3

platelets

Answer 3

• bone marrow
• megakaryocytes

Question 4

whats measured in a FBC?

Answer 4

RBC:
- count
- haemoglobin
- haematocrit (RBC%)
- mean corpuscular volume (RBC mean size)
- mean corpuscular haemoglobin (mean Hb in each RBC)
- mean corpuscular haemoglobin conc (mean conc of haem in RBC)

WBC:
- count
- differencial count - number of the diff types of WBC

platelets:
- count
- average size of platelets

red cell distribution width:
- measures variation in RBC size

Question 5

what can be identified abnormally on a blood slide and what can this suggest

Answer 5

• infections - organisms
• type of anemia
• leukaemias - blasts
• haemolysis - schistocytes
• haemological disorders - sickle cells / howell-jolly bpdies

Question 6

haem and non-haem causes - leukocytosis (high WBC)

Answer 6

Hematological causes:
- Leukemia (acute or chronic)
- Myeloproliferative disorders (e.g., polycythemia vera)
- Lymphoproliferative disorders (e.g., lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia)

Non-hematological causes:
- Infections (bacterial, viral, fungal)
- Inflammatory conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus)
- Stress/Trauma (physical or emotional)
Medications (e.g., corticosteroids)
- Smoking

Question 7

haem and non-haem causes - thrombocytosis (high platelets)

Answer 7

Hematological causes:
- Essential thrombocythemia (a myeloproliferative disorder)
- Polycythemia vera

Non-hematological causes:
- Acute inflammation or infection
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Post-splenectomy
- Cancer (e.g., lung, GI)

Question 8

haem and non-haem causes - polycythemia (high Hb)

Answer 8

Hematological causes:
- Polycythemia vera (a myeloproliferative disorder)
- Secondary polycythemia (due to hypoxia, e.g., chronic lung disease, congenital heart disease)

Non-hematological causes:
- Chronic hypoxia (e.g., COPD, smoking, high-altitude living)
- Renal tumors (e.g., kidney tumors producing erythropoietin)
- Sleep apnea

Question 9

haem and non-haem causes - neutropenia (low neutrophil)

Answer 9

Hematological causes:
- Aplastic anemia
- Leukemias
- Bone marrow failure syndromes

Non-hematological causes:
- Viral infections (e.g., HIV, hepatitis)
- Autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis)
- Medications (e.g., chemotherapy, immunosuppressants)
- Severe bacterial infections (e.g., sepsis)

Question 10

haem and non-haem causes - thrombocytopenia (low platelet)

Answer 10

Hematological causes:
- Aplastic anemia
- Leukemia
- Myelodysplastic syndromes

Non-hematological causes:
- Infections (e.g., viral infections like HIV or hepatitis)
- Autoimmune diseases (e.g., immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP))
- Drug-induced thrombocytopenia (e.g., heparin-induced thrombocytopenia)
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)