Hematology P2 Flashcards
How should you begin scanning on a microscope in hematology?
Remember: the goal is monolayering!
With low power to locate the best area of the smear for examination at a higher magnification
RBC:
Hemoglobin
1. It is an ___ bearing molecule
2. Globin binds to ____ molecule
3. Heme is ___
- An O2 bearing molecule
- Globin binds to 1 O2 molecule
- Heme is iron
RBC:
Variation of morphology with species
Nucleated RBCs in birds & reptiles
Anemia
Decreased RBC number
(compared to what is normal for species)
Polycythemia
Increased RBC number
(compared to what is normal for the species)
Hypochromasia
Decreased blue staining due to decreased iron content.
“Washed out” color is from the cell natural color, no the stain.
Polychromasia
Multiple colors in population of RBCs due to the presence of younger bluer cells
Macrocytosis
Enlarged due to young RBCs
Microcytosis
Small due to decreased Hgb (Hemoglobin) content
Anisocytosis is cell populations all having ____ size
Anisocytosis is VARIABLE sizes in population
Rouleaux
“Stacking of RBCs” dispersed with saline
(this is normal in cats)
Agglutination is the ____ of RBCs due to ____ attachment.
- Clumping of RBCs
- Due to antibody attachment
(bad!!)
Erythocyte morphology
Shape: Poikilocytes
Are erythrocytes with abnormal shape for the species at hand.
Some poikilocytes have fairly specific diagnostic significance, while other forms are very non-specific
- Erythrocytes with a “weird,” different shape
Poikilocytes examples (3)
- Spherocytes
- Schistocytes
- Echinocytes
Spherocytes
RBC have assumed the form of a sphere rather than the normal discoid shape.
- Loss of central pallor
- Often due to spleen removing damaged areas
Schistocytes
Or RBC fragments:
Generally taken to reflect mechanical injury to erythrocytes.
- Tumor of spleen or liver are common causes (AKA cancer)
Echinocytes
Spikey points, “sunshine shape.” Can be due to EDTA, but still must be reported if found
- Nucleated RBC happen most often due to: (4)
- Animals physiologically prone to this: (4)
- Commonly caused by:
- Bone marrow injury
- Lead poisoning
- Acute myeloid leukemia & myelodysplasia
- Abnormal spleen function - Physiologic:
- Mini Schnauzers
- Poodles
- Daschunds
All due to smaller numbers of nRBCs in health
- Regenerative response to anemia
Reticulocytes
Slightly immature, anucleated RBCs that contain RNA
- Will appear more blue due to age
- They’re still “wet”
Band cell
- Immature granulocyte, associated with severe infection or inflammation.
- Nucleus is curved to “U” shaped.
“Teenage cell” May look like a small monocyte. Once the waist pinches by 1/3 it is a neutrophil.
Toxic neutrophil
Hint: Growing up in war conditions
NOTHING TO DO W/TOXIC EXPOSURE!!
Toxic changes in neutrophils are morphologic abnormalities acquired during maturation under conditions that intensely stimulated (think growing up in war!) neutrophil production and shorten the maturation time in marrow
Reactive Lymphocytes
“Reactive” lymphocytes are larger cells with coarse (mature) chromatin, and deep blue cytoplasm
Lymphoblast
Immature, large, dark nucleus with rim of cytoplasm. Cell is large.
- Inflammation
- Leukemia
____ are a first defense against hemorrhage
Platelets
T/F: Platelets are produced by megakaryocytes outside the bone marrow
False! Trick question: they are produced IN the bone marrow!
