Haematology

Question 1

What are the components of blood?

Answer 1

Plasma 
Formed elements 
 - Red cells, White cells, Platelets 
    - Granulocytes, Agranulocytes 
        - (g) Neutrophils, Eosinophils, Basophils 
        - (a) Lymphocytes, Monocytes

Question 2

What do red cells do?

Answer 2

Transport O2

Question 3

What do white cells do?

Answer 3

Fight infection

Question 4

What do platelets do?

Answer 4

Prevent bleeding

Question 5

Where is the site of production of blood cells for the majority of human life?

Answer 5

Bone marrow

Question 6

Do red cells have a nucleus?

Answer 6

No, the have Hb instead

Question 7

What is Hb?

Answer 7

an iron containing protein with a haem group

Question 8

What does lack of iron lead to?

Answer 8

A reduction in Hb

Question 9

What is there a reduced totally mass of in anaemia?

Answer 9

There is a reduced total red cell mass

Question 10

What do blood films do?

Answer 10

They are used to confirm the abnormalities identified by analysers.

Question 11

When is there an increase in neutrophils?(granulocytes)

Answer 11

Stress - physiological or pathological (acute inflammation, trauma, infarction)
Steroids - (cause de margination) - increases neutrophil count, changes localisation of neutrophils, they go from the edge of the vessel to the midline, so when you take a sample there are more neutrophils, however the actual number of neutrophils does not go up.

Question 12

When is there an increase in eosinophils?(granulocytes)

Answer 12

Parasitic infection

Hypersensitivity reaction

Question 13

When is there an increase in basophils? (granulocytes)

Answer 13

Hypersensitivity reactions

Question 14

When is there an increase monocytes? (white cells)

Answer 14

Chronic infections, malignancy, autoimmune disorders

Question 15

When is there an increase in Lymphocytes? (white cells)

Answer 15

Viral infections etc

Question 16

What is haemostasis?

Answer 16

The arrest of bleeding and the maintenance of vascular patency - the link between platelets and plasma

Question 17

What are the requirements of haemostais?

Answer 17

Premenant state of readiness
Prompt response
Locaslied response
Protection against unwanted thrombosis

Question 18

What are the components of normal haemostatic system?

Answer 18

Formation of the platelet plug - primary haemostasis
Formation of fibrin clot - secondary haemostasis
Fibrinolysis - anticoagulant defences

Question 19

Describe the platelet structure and function?

Answer 19

• Small anucleate disc with a mean life span of 7-10days
• Damage to endothelial cells exposes collagen
• Platelet adhesion occurs at the site injury
  there is then secretion of various chemicals from the platelets which leads to aggregation of platelets at the site of injury

Question 20

Give examples of high and low platelet diseases?

Answer 20

High - acute blood loss, iron deficiency

Low - liver disease, rapid consumption

Question 21

What is fibrin clot formation, secondary haemostasis?

Answer 21

Series of reactions involving activation of coagulation factors to an active state (pro-enzyme to enzyme), that results in the conversion of soluble fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin

Question 22

Describe D dimers?

Answer 22

Fibrin degradation product
If increased it suggests increased fibrinolysis (breaking down a clot)
Could be raised in abnormal thrombus

Question 23

What is plasma viscosity an index of?

Answer 23

changes in plasma proteins (fibrinogen and some globulins).

• can reflect systemic inflammation