Haematology (Intro to haematology) Flashcards
What is haematology?
The study of blood
- concerned with the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases of the blood and blood forming organs
What % of blood is cells? What are the 3 types of cell in the blood?
45%
- RBCs
- WBCs
- Platelets
What is the remaining % of blood?
Plasma
What features of RBCs does haematology study?
- Number
- Function
- Size
- Quantity on haemoglobin they carry
What is the most common condition that affects RBCs?
Anemia
What is the result of anemia and the associated symptoms?
- Reduced oxygen carrying capacity of the blood
- lethargy, weakness, dizziness
What are some common causes of anemia?
- Iron deficiency
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Maliganacy
- Kidney and liver disease
- Infections
- Inherited conditions e.g sickle cell
What is another name for WBCs? What are the 5 categories?
leukocytes
- lymphocytes
- monocytes
- neutrophils
- basophils
- eosinophils
What is the most common disease of WBCs?
Leukaemia
What can be the cause of a rise or a fall in WBC count?
Rise:
- Infectious disease
- Leukaemia
Fall:
- aplastic anemia (poor bone marrow formation)
- medication e.g chemo
What is the result of low WBCs?
Immunodeficiency
What % of the total WBC count is made of lymphocytes?
20-45%
What is the structure of lymphocytes?
- Mononuclear
- Nucleus is round and regular
- Makes up 90% of cell
- Do not contain granules
What are the functions of lymphocytes?
1) Generation of antibodies by B cells
2) Co-operation in antibody production by Th cells
3) Destruction of viral infected cells by Tc cells
What % of the WBC count is monocytes? What is their structure?
2-10%
- Large mononuclear cells
- kidney shaped nuclei
- Cytoplasm has a ‘ground glass’ appearance due to granules
- May have vacuoles
- Largest WBC
What are the functions of monocytes?
- Phagocytosis
- Participation in inflammation
- Removal of debris
- Release of cytokines e.g IL-2
- Participation in homeostasis - production of tissue factor