Hematologic System Flashcards
Anemia
definition
Decrease in number or function of RBCs
RBC function
Carry oxygen
Polycythemia
definition
Increase in number of RBCs
Site of formation of new blood elements in an adult
Bone marrow
Hematopoiesis
def
Formation of new blood elements
Site of hematopoiesis in the fetal period
Spleen
Liver
Lymph nodes
Role of spleen in adult
Filter out
infectious organisms
malformed, damaged, or old RBCs
How is RBC production stimulated?
kidneys secrete erythropoietin (EPO) stimulating the bone marrow to produce RBCs
Hematocrit
def, normal range
Percent of the blood that is RBCs
40-50% men
35-45% women
S/sx of anemia
TACHYCARDIA - effort to increase perfusion to the tissues
PALLOR - blood be shunted to brain, central organs
DOE - as a result of heart and lungs struggling to keep up with demand
Hemoglobin
def, normal range
Molecule of RBC that carries O2
14-18 g/dl men
12-16 g/dl women
RBCs are also known as
Erythrocytes
Serum Iron
normal range
50-150 mcg/dL
TIBC
stands for, normal range
Total Iron Binding Capacity
250-450 mcg/dL
MCV
def, normal range
Mean Corpuscular Volume
average volume and size of RBC
80-100 fl
MCHC
def, normal range
Mean Corpuscular Hgb Concentration
average hemoglobin concentration in RBC; “color”
32-36%
Low MCV
range, AKA
< 80 fl
aka MICROCYTIC
Normal MCV
range, AKA
80-100 fl
aka NORMOCYTIC
Low MCHC
range, AKA
< 32%
aka HYPOCHROMIC
High MCV
range, AKA
> 100 fl
aka MACROCYTIC
Normal MCHC
range, AKA
32-36%
aka NORMOCHROMIC
High MCHC
range, AKA
theoretically > 36%
but most texts agree there’s no such thing as HYPERCHROMIC
Anemia pairs:
MICRO-cytic
HYPO-chromic
Iron deficiency anemia
Thalassemia
Iron deficiency anemia
___ -cytic, ___ -chromic
MICRO-cytic
HYPO-chromic
Thalassemia
___ -cytic, ___ -chromic
MICRO-cytic
HYPO-chromic
Anemia pairs:
MACRO-cytic
NORMO-chromic
Folic acid deficiency
Pernicious anemia
Folic acid deficiency
___ -cytic, ___ -chromic
MACRO-cytic
NORMO-chromic
Pernicious anemia
___ -cytic, ___ -chromic
MACRO-cytic
NORMO-chromic
Anemia pairs:
NORMO-cytic
NORMO-chromic
Anemia of chronic disease
Sickle cell anemia
Anemia of chronic disease
___ -cytic, ___ -chromic
NORMO-cytic
NORMO-chromic
Sickle cell anemia
___ -cytic, ___ -chromic
NORMO-cytic
NORMO-chromic
Which anemias are characterized by a BIG BEEFY TONGUE?
aka GLOSSITIS
Folic acid deficiency
Pernicious anemia
What’s the only anemia characterized by neurological symptoms?
Pernicious anemia
What is the only anemia described as hemolytic?
Sickle cell anemia
What is the long name for vitamin B12?
Cyanocobalamin
What does serum ferritin represent?
The stores of iron in the CLOSET
RDW in iron deficiency anemia
increased
RCDW/RDW
Red Cell Distribution Width
red cell size variation
11.5 - 14.5 %
provides clues to differentiate between different anemias
RDW in thalassemia
slightly increased or normal
RDW in anemia of chronic disease
normal
What is a reticulocyte?
baby RBC
What is the normal range of reticulocytes in circulation?
1 - 2 %
What does reticulocyte count tell you?
provides information about the health of bone marrow and response to anemia
