Haematology Flashcards
Name 3 different areas of study within the field of haematology
a. Haemopoiesis
b. Haemoglobin
c. Coagulation
Anaemia is a disease studied in a routine haematology laboratory. What is anaemia?
Anaemia is a condition in which you lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your body’s tissues.
Explain what is meant by the term Leukaemia.
A type of blood cancer that affects the blood cells in your bone marrow.
What is haemopoiesis?
a. The production of blood cells and platelets, which occurs in the bone marrow
What is Erythropoiesis?
a. The production of red blood cells
What is the correct term for a disease in neutrophils?
a. Neutropaenia
Where does haemopoiesis occur? Explain why you might have more than one answer.
a. Depending on the stage of development the production is in different places.
a. Foetus
i. Yolk sac
ii. Liver
iii. Spleen
iv. Bone marrow
v. Lymph nodes
b. Adult
i. Bone marrow
Describe the shape of a RBC. Why do RBC have this shape?
RBC’s are shaped as a biconcave disc. To maximise surface area and allow for a more efficient transfer of oxygen
Discuss the significance of the RBC membrane.
The membrane structure controls the shape of the RBC
List 3 Granulocytes that can be found in peripheral blood.
a. Neutrophils
b. Eosinophils
c. Basophils
List each of the 5 WBC types found in peripheral blood and explain the features that help to identify each of them.
a. Neutrophils
b. Eosinophils
c. Basophils
d. Lymphocytes
e. Monocytes
Add features
What is the term used to indicate variation in RBC size?
Anisocytosis
What general term indicates variation in RBC shape?
Poikilocytosis
Provide 2 examples of specific terms for specific abnormal RBC shapes and describe the RBC shape for each term.
a. Elliptocytes
a. Thin elongated cigar shaped cells
b. Spherocytes
Loss of biconcave shape - sphere
What is Polychromasia and what may it indicate?
It is a variation in colour of a RBC. It indicates an increased number of immature RBC’s
What physiological processes do platelets have a role in?
Prevent and stop bleeding. Clotting the blood
What does the term “Thrombocytopaenia” mean?
a. Decreased number of platelets
What is the term for an increased number of Lymphocytes in the peripheral blood?
a. Lymphocytosis
Either of 2 principles can be used in Automated Cell Counting machines. What are these 2 principles?
Automated or Manual
What blood cells can be manually counted using a haemocytometer (counting chamber)?
a. White Blood cells
b. Red blood cells
c. Platelets
Can a counting chamber also be used to count anything else besides blood cells?
a. Yes, bacterial cells in suspension
Different areas of a counting chamber are used for counting different types of blood cells. What areas are used for a manual WCC
The corners of the counter separated by 1mm lines
Explain why WBC types should always be reported as an Absolute number and not Relative numbers following a Diff.
a. Depending on the patients total white blood cell count the absolute number will change even when the relative number is the same. Therefore it is necessary to measure with absolute blood cell count.
