Hematology Flashcards
He discovered the closed circulation of blood and proved that blood flows into two separate loops, the pulmonary circulation and the systemic circulation.
William Harvey (1628)
He giave the first accurate description of red blood cells.
Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1674)
He is considered to be the “Father of Hematology”. He was responsible for the discovery of white blood cells, lymphatic circulation, and fibrinogen (Coagulation Factor I). He also discovered fundamentals of coagulation and Glauber’s salt, which is the first anticoagulant.
William Hewson (1770 - 1773)
A substance that prevents blood from clotting of blood.
Anticoagulant
He discovered the role of bone marrow in hematopoiesis.
Frank Ernst Christian Neumann (1868)
The production of the cellular components of blood and blood plasma.
Hematopoiesis
In 1868, he made an independent investigation and subsequent discovery of the role of bone marrow in blood cell production.
He also described platelets as “petite plaques” and described the role of platelets in hemostasis and thrombosis in 1888.
Giulio Bizzozero
A process to prevent and stop bleeding.
Hemostasis
The formation of blood clot known as thrombus.
Thrombosis
He developed the first method of blood cell staining and identified three types of granulocytes, mast cells, and megaloblasts.
Paul Ehrlich (1878)
He developed the Wright stain and the refinements thereof such as the Wright’s Romanowsky-type stain remains the foundation of blood cell identification.
James Homer Wright (1902)
First individual to perform a blood count. His method involved drawing blood into a capillary tube and spreading a known volume of the collected blood onto a slide, followed by microscopic analysis.
Karl Vierordt (1852)
In 1896, he provided an RBC (red blood cell) count without the need for manual counting of individual cells. His method was based on the visual measurement of light loss by scattering and absorption in a test tube filled with diluted blood.
George Oliver
Utilized a photodetector for the measurement of light absorption instead of relying on unaided eyes.
Mercandier et al in 1928
He developed cell counting by impedance measurement. This method was based on the fact that cells are poor electrical conductors and that they manifest electrical resistance as they pass through a small aperture (opening).
Wallace Coulter in 1953
One of the basic building blocks of the minimum database in medicine.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
The scientific study of blood and its components.
Hematology
The Greek word for blood.
Heme
A specialized liquid connective tissue that supplies essential substances such as sugars, oxygen, and hormones around the body.
Blood
The two components of blood are…
Blood Plasma and Formed Elements
Population of Blood Plasma
Comprises 55% of the blood volume. The plasma is composed of 91.5% water, 7% plasma proteins and 1.5% other solutes.
Blood sample is NOT allowed to clot prior to separation from cells. Blood sample used for collection is anticoagulated. Pale yellow fluid separated from the blood cells via centrifugation. Presence of fibrinogen (Factor I) Presence of all clotting factors.
Plasma
Blood sample is allowed to clot before separation from the clot. Blood sample used for collection is NOT anticoagulated. Yellow fluid separated from the blood clot via centrifugation. Absence of fibrinogen (Factor I) Absence of Factor V, VIII, XIII, II.
Serum
Comprises 45% of the blood volume. Red blood Cells, White Blood Cells, and Platelets.
Formed Elements
Biconcave disc-shaped cells that are anucleated (have no nucleus).
Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes)
A pigment that gives whole blood its red color. These cells are primarily responsible for physiological gas exchange, specifically transporting oxygen from the lungs to the different parts of the body and carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs.
Hemoglobin
Nucleated cells that defend the body against infections.
White Blood Cells (Leukocytes)
The cytoplasm contains conspicuous and easily observed granules. Neutrophils, Eosinophils, and Basophils.
Granulocytes
Leukocytes containing cytoplasmic granules that are not as obviously observed.
Agranulocytes
Nucleus has 2-5 lobes
Cytoplasm has fine, pale lilac granules
Phagocytic; respond to bacterial infection
Comprises 50-70% of total WBC population
Neutrophils/Polymorphonuclear Cells (PMN)/Mature Segmenters
Nucleus usually has 2 lobes connected by thick chromatin strand
Cytoplasm contains large, red-orange granules
Responds to parasitic & helminthic infection and allergy
Also characterized to have phagocytic activity
Comprises 1-3% of the total WBC population
Eosinophils
Nucleus has 2 lobes; Nucleus is not easily observed because it is often covered by large granules
Cytoplasm contains water soluble blue-black granules
Involved in allergic and hypersensitivity reactions
Comprises 0-2% of total WBC population
Basophils
Nucleus is horseshoe or kidney-shaped often with brain-like convolutions
Cytoplasm is blue-gray colored and foamy and has very fine azurophilic
granules responsible for the characteristic “Ground glass” appearance
Are converted to macrophages as they leave the blood circulation and enter
peripheral tissues
Macrophages are potent phagocytes which defend the body against
Mycobacterium species and other bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses
Comprises 2-11% of total WBC population
Monocytes
Round or slightly indented nucleus that occupies majority of the cell area
Scanty cytoplasm with a characteristic “Robin’s egg blue coloration”
Immunocytes
Predominant WBC that responds to several viral infections
Comprises 18-42% of total WBC population
Lymphocytes
Cell fragments that play significant roles in hemostasis. These cells contain many vesicles but have no nucleus.
Platelets (Thrombocyte)
A commonly performed blood test that is often included as part of a routine checkup. Help in the detection of a variety of disorders including infections, anemia, diseases of the immune system, and blood cancers.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Primarily used for the diagnosis of anemia.
Hemoglobin Determination
A condition in which the number of red blood cells or their oxygen-carrying pigment hemoglobin is insufficient to meet physiologic needs.
Anemia
Also known as Packed Cell Volume (PCV) or Erythrocyte Volume Fraction (EVF), is the volume percentage of RBCs in a whole blood sample.
Hematocrit Determination
It is not used by physicians for diagnosis of anemia. This is because even automated counts are highly erroneous.
Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count
A clinically significant value.
White Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Seen in infections, allergy, and leukemic states.
Leukocytosis
Observed in cases of viral infections that temporarily disrupt bone marrow, autoimmune disorders, and immunodeficiency.
Leukopenia
The quantification of thrombocytes of the blood samples.
Platelet Count
A routine procedure that involves observing a total of 100 WBCs and simultaneously classifying them as either neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.
White Blood Cell (WBC) Differential Count
Involves microscopic observation of the size and shape of the red blood cell population of the sample.
Red Blood Cell (RBC) Morphology Examination
Aids in morphological classification of anemia. MCV, MCH, and MCHC are commonly reported indices.
Red Blood Cell (RBC) Indices
Average volume of a single erythrocyte in a given blood sample.
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
Indicates the average weight of hemoglobin per erythrocyte.
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)
Indicates the average concentration of hemoglobin in the erythrocytes.
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)
