Hematology Flashcards
What is the blood responsible for?
Transport of nutrients and oxygen
Transport of wastes
Transport of cells responsible for immune system regulation
Transport of cells and factors responsible for coagulation and repair
What are the three types of cells in blood?
RBC
WBC
Platelets
What is plasma?
Liquid portion of blood, contains various enzymes and proteins (such as coag factors and immunoglobulins)
What is hematopoesis?
Formation/maturation of blood cells
What are the precursers in bone marrow?
Children:
All marrow (all cells are formed here)
Adults:
Marrow of vertebrae, ribs, sternum, clavicle, iliac crest, proximal epiphyses of long bones (are the only places that form marrow)
What is the function of erythrocytes-RBCs?
Most abundant cell in blood
Carries oxygen to tissues
What is erythropoesis?
- Formation of reticulocytes stimulated by erythropoetin (EPO) and other factors
- Reticulocytes released into circulation
- Loses nucleus and becomes erythrocyte within days
- 120 day lifespan- important when keeping track of how the meds are being used to create RBC
- Destruction via lysis or phagocytosis by spleen
Where is erythropoetun produced?
90% produced by kidneys Reduced levels in renal failure Mechanism of renal production Detect hypoxia Produce and release EPO into circulation
What are the actions of erythropoetin?
Stimulate stem cell differenation to RBC precursors
Increase rate of mitosis
Increase release of reticulocytes into circulation
Induce hemoglobin (Hgb) formation
What does hemoglobin do?
Binds oxygen Oxygen binds to iron atoms in HgB protein in RBC Reduced affinity for oxygen with: Reduced pH (acidity) CO2 Increased temp High elevation
Synthesis requires pyridoxine (Vit B6)
Made of 2 alpha and 2 beta chains
Each linked to heme group (polyphorin ring with iron chelated at center)
What does hemoglobin require for formation?
Vitamin B6 pyroxidine
What is hematocrit?
Defines % of blood volume occupied by RBC
What does low hematocrit indicate?
Anemia
What does high hematocrit indicate?
Polycythemia
What is found on the RBC indices?
Mean Corpuscular volume
Mean Corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
Red Cell Distribution Width
What is the mean corpuscular volume (MCV)?
Average volume of RBC
What does a low MCV indicate?
Microcytic anemia
What does a high MCV indicate?
Macrocytic anemia
What is the corpuscular hemoglobin concetration (MCHC)?
Volume of RBC occupied by Hgb (%)
What does a low MCHC indicate?
Microcytosis, reduced Hgb production
What does a high MCHC indicate?
Macrocytic anemia
What is red cell distribution width (RDW)?
Variability of RBC size
What does low or high RDW indicate?
Low or high: various anemias, liver disease
What is found on iron studies?
Iron Transferrin Percent transferrin saturation Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) Ferritin