Haematology Intro Flashcards
Role of Haematology
Process haematological tests to obtain results
Inteprt the results from the analyser / experiment
Determine if further actions is required
Validate the results
Cardiovascular system
CV system - blood, heart and blood vessels
Circulatory system - cardiovascular and lymphatic systems
Blood - a fluid connective tissues with matrix (plasma) and formed elements (cells)
Plasma Proteins
Albumins
Globulins
Fibrinogen
Prothrombin
`Plasma - other solutes
Organic nutrients
Electrolytes
Respiratory gasses
Wastes
Formed elements
Platelets
Leukocytes
Erythrocytes
Erythrocytes
Biconcave disk - high surface to volume ratio
Disks form stacks called rouleaux
Lack organelles
No cellular divison
Anaerobic metabolism only
Live approx. 120 days
Haemoglobin (Hb) structure/ function
Complex quaternary structure (2 alpha and beta chains)
Each has 1 haem molecule
Oxyhemoglobin - containing oxygen
Deoxyhaemoglobin - less oxygen
Carbon monoxide
Haemoglobin forms carboxyhaemoglobin
Erythrocyte parameters
Red blood cell count - RBC
Haemocrit - HCT- indication of the proportion/ mass of red cells
Haemoglobin - Hb-g/L units
Mean Cell Volume - MCV - volume of the red cells
Mean Cell Haemoglobin - MCH - average mass of Hb in red cells
Red Cell Distribution Width - RDW - variation in sized of red cell
Erythrocyte parameters
MCV - microcytic, normocytic, macrocytic
MCH - hypochromic, normochromic, hyperchromic
RDW - variation in the size of the red cells present - anisocytosis
RBC - able to determine if the anaemia is due to blood loss
Circulating erythrocytes
1% of red cells wear out per day, and cannot repair themself
Broken down - Globular proteins into amino acids and Haem into biliverdin and iron
Erythrocyte turnover
Transferrin - transports iron back to the bone marrow to make new red cells - excess transferrin removed by liver and spleen
If excess haemoglobin breakdown - products appear
Erythrocyte turnover - haem breakdown products
Biliverdin(green) is converted to bilirubin (yellow) and is released in blood, filterd by liver and excreted in bile
Jaundice = failure of bilirubin to be excreted in bile
In gut, bilirubin - urobilin (yellow)& sterocoblin (brown) via intestinal bacteria
The spleen
Site for erythrocyte recycling
Largest lymphoid tissue of the body
White pulp - contains lymphocytes, acts like a lymph node
Red pulp - surrounds white pulp, contains red cells and macrophages, main function to phagocytose old red cells
Function of the spleen
Filter that monitors blood cell health and filters damaged or old cells from circulation
Red cells coated in antibodies are removed from circulation
Site of autoimmune destruction of red cells
