Diseases of Erythrocytes Flashcards
what is the hematopoietic system
-blood cell forming system
- process in which red and white blood cells are produced
what makes up the hematopoietic system
- lymphoid tissue
- bone marrow: red and yellow
- circulating blood
where does hematopoiesis occur
red bone marrow
what are the most common sites of hematopoietic bone marrow in adults
- vertebrae
- ribs
- sternum
- iliac
what regulates erythropoiesis
erythropoietin in the kidneys
what percentage of RBCs are replaced daily
1%
what is the lifespan of RBCs
120 days
what are reticulocytes
immature red blood cells
- reticular network of RNA in cytoplasm
what is the normal range of reticulocytes
0.5% - 1.5%
what are reticulocytes an indicator of
bone marrow activity
what is reticulocytosis
elevated number of reticulocytes in blood
what are the recognizable stages of erythropoiesis
- hemocytoblast
- proerythroblast
- early erythroblast
- late erythroblast
- normoblast
- reticulocyte
- erythrocyte
what are the normal peripheral values for erythrocytes
4.0-5.5 million/mm^3
what are the normal peripheral values for thrombocytes
150-400 thousand/mm^3
what are the normal peripheral values for leukocytes
5-10 thousand / mm^3
describe the shape of RBCs
- bioconcave disks - central pallor
- 7-8 microns diameter
what is hematocrit in males and females
- males: 40-54%
- females: 37-47%
what is hemoglobin levels in males and females
- males: 14-18
- females: 12-16
how is serum calculated
plasma - clotting factors
where is a bone marrow aspirration and biopsy done
posterior superior iliac crest
what is hemoglobin structure
- heme: non protein portion
- globin: protein portion
describe what makes up the heme portion
- iron porphyrin- 4 pyrrole rings + iron
what makes up the globin portion
- HbA (adult Hb) - 2 alpha, 2 beta
- HbF (fetal Hb) - 2 alpha, 2 gamma
normal adult red cells contain mainly:
HbA
terminology for reduction in the number of erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes
- anemia, erythropenia
- leukopenia
- thrombocytopenia
what are the ways to describe the cell size of erythrocytes and what does each mean
- normocytic
- macrocytic: B12, folate deficiency
- microcytic- iron deficiency
what are the ways to describe the hemoglobin content for erythrocytes
- normochromic
- hypochromic
what is anemia
- a reduction in the erythron- a reduction in the total red cell mass below normal limits
- reduction in the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood leading to tissue hypoxia
what is anemia diagnosed based on
- inadequate numbers of erythrocytes (low hematocrit- the ratio of packed red cells to total blood volume)
- inadequate level of hemoglobin - the hemoglobin concentration of the blood
what are the clinical features of anemia
- pallor: pale skin and mucosa
- lethargy: lack of energy
- dyspnea
- tachycardia
- koilonychia- spoon shaped nails
- atrophic glossitis
- cognitive problems, dizziness
- cold extremities
- headache
why do anemic patients experience fatigue
patient with low hematocrit cannot carry enough oxygen in the blood to meet energy demands, weakness, malaise, and easy fatiguability
why do anemic patients experience increased heart rate
compensates for the low oxygen carrying capacity of the blood
when do anemic patients experience shortness of breath
compensates for the poor delivery of oxygen to the tissues
why do anemic patients experience low BP
- a decrease in blood viscosity directly lowers total peripheral resistance to the flow of blood, thus lowering MAP
why do anemic patients experience pale skin
hemoglobin is bright red when oxygenated and less red when deoxygenated because the redness of skin is due to the redness of blood, the skin of an anemic person will be less red
why is the CNS affected in anemic patients
hypoxia can cause headache, dimness of vision and faintness