Ch. 13 Disorders of Red Blood Cells

Question 1

what is the purpose of RBC?

Answer 1

transportation of oxygen to the tissues

Question 2

describe RBCs

Answer 2

• biconcave to provide more surface area for O2 diffusion
• thin to allow for rapid diffusion of O2
• most common type of blood cell in the body

Question 3

Hemoglobin synthesis is dependent on..

Answer 3

iron

Question 4

erythropoiesis

Answer 4

• making of RBCs

- takes place in the membranous bones of the vertebrae, sternum, ribs and pelvis

Question 5

What role do the kidneys play in erythropoiesis?

Answer 5

kidneys release erythropoietin (which is a hormone that stimulates erythropoiesis) when they sense a decrease in O2

*why if a patient has kidney disease they could experience Low RBC

Question 6

Where does erythropoiesis take place in children up to age 5?

Answer 6

in the bone marrow

Question 7

how does one get the iron needed to make RBC?

Answer 7

• ingested in foods like spinach, kale, liver, meat

- iron is recycled in the spleen (damaged RBC get destroyed and iron gets put back in the blood)

Question 8

Hemaglobin (Hgb)

Answer 8

How Much?

-measures the hemoglobin content of the blood

Question 9

Hematocrit (Hct)

Answer 9

How functionable are the RBCs? How’s their size?

-measures the red cell mass in the plasma

Question 10

anemia

Answer 10

abnormally low number of circulating RBC

Question 11

S/S of anemia

Answer 11

Shortness of breath, fainting, chest pain, angina, heart attack, muscular weakness

Question 12

Hemolytic Anemia

Answer 12

• premature destruction of RBCs

- bone marrow becomes hyperactive (too fast so they aren’t big and beefy)

Question 13

causes of Hemolytic Anemia

Answer 13

• intrinsic factor defect (intrinsic factor is found in the GI tract and helps absorb iron)
• external cause like Dialysis ( RBC get damaged in the machine)

Question 14

Blood Loss anemia

Answer 14

Hemorrhage or chronic blood loss

Hemorrhage : sudden loss of volume/RBCs. body isn’t profusing organs. patient can go into hemorrhagic shock

Chronic blood loss: volume is unchanged but iron stores are depleted. Examples: Colon cancer (bloody stools), Menopause/Menstruation(bleeding heavily)

Question 15

Sickle Cell Anemia

Answer 15

• inherited/no cure
• erythrocytes (RBC) become rigid, change shapes, damage the cell membranes
• decreased O2 saturation can predispose a person w/SCD to have a sickling of the hemoglobin to occur(Crisis) ex: cold, stressed, physical exertion, dehydration

Question 16

Iron Deficiency Anemia

Answer 16

dietary deficiency (low iron rich foods) or chronic blood loss (menstruation, hemorrhoids, polyps)

Question 17

Pernicious Anemia

Answer 17

vitamin B12 (or could be due to foliate/folic acid deficiency) deficiency

• vitamin B12 is essential for DNA synthesis and nuclear maturation
• prevents abnormal fatty acids from being incorporated into neuronal lipids
• B vitamins are absorbed through gastric mucosa, intrinsic factors
• diminished ability to absorb vitamins B w/age

Question 18

Aplastic Anemia

Answer 18

disorder of the bone marrow, effects production of RBC, WBC, and platelets.

• decreased RBC -Anemia
• decreased platelets - increased bleeding
• decreased WBC - increased susceptibility to infection

has had good success with stem cell treatment

Question 19

polycythemia

Answer 19

too much bone marrow stimulation
-excess RBC, WBC, Platelets

could be primary or secondary

Question 20

polycythemia vera

Answer 20

primary polycythemia

• high viscosity of blood-thick(treated w/fluids)
• prone to clots and bleeding due to platelet abnormalities

hypertension is common with these people

Question 21

Secondary Polycythemia

Answer 21

-form an increase in erythropoietin (in kidneys)

Caused by….
-usually a chronic condition that causes a decrease in oxygen supply which will stimulate a polycythemia condition.
or
-long term smokers, COPD
-chronic hypoxia (need O2)
- kidneys cant determine cause of decreased O2 so even though patient has normal amount of RBCs, erythropoietin is still released, RBC get high count

treat with oxygen (normal environment is 21% oxygen in the atmosphere)