Hematology P2

Question 1

How should you begin scanning on a microscope in hematology?

Remember: the goal is monolayering!

Answer 1

With low power to locate the best area of the smear for examination at a higher magnification

Question 2

RBC:
Hemoglobin
1. It is an ___ bearing molecule
2. Globin binds to ____ molecule
3. Heme is ___

Answer 2

1. An O2 bearing molecule
2. Globin binds to 1 O2 molecule
3. Heme is iron

Question 3

RBC:
Variation of morphology with species

Answer 3

Nucleated RBCs in birds & reptiles

Question 4

Anemia

Answer 4

Decreased RBC number
(compared to what is normal for species)

Question 5

Polycythemia

Answer 5

Increased RBC number
(compared to what is normal for the species)

Question 6

Hypochromasia

Answer 6

Decreased blue staining due to decreased iron content.
“Washed out” color is from the cell natural color, no the stain.

Question 7

Polychromasia

Answer 7

Multiple colors in population of RBCs due to the presence of younger bluer cells

Question 8

Macrocytosis

Answer 8

Enlarged due to young RBCs

Question 9

Microcytosis

Answer 9

Small due to decreased Hgb (Hemoglobin) content

Question 10

Anisocytosis is cell populations all having ____ size

Answer 10

Anisocytosis is VARIABLE sizes in population

Question 11

Rouleaux

Answer 11

“Stacking of RBCs” dispersed with saline
(this is normal in cats)

Question 12

Agglutination is the ____ of RBCs due to ____ attachment.

Answer 12

1. Clumping of RBCs
2. Due to antibody attachment
   (bad!!)

Question 13

Erythocyte morphology
Shape: Poikilocytes

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Poikilocytes examples (3)

Answer 14

1. Spherocytes
2. Schistocytes
3. Echinocytes

Question 15

Spherocytes

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Schistocytes

Answer 16

Or RBC fragments:
Generally taken to reflect mechanical injury to erythrocytes.
- Tumor of spleen or liver are common causes (AKA cancer)

Question 17

Echinocytes

Answer 17

Spikey points, “sunshine shape.” Can be due to EDTA, but still must be reported if found

Question 18

1. Nucleated RBC happen most often due to: (4)
2. Animals physiologically prone to this: (4)

Answer 18

1. Commonly caused by:
   - Bone marrow injury
   - Lead poisoning
   - Acute myeloid leukemia & myelodysplasia
   - Abnormal spleen function
2. Physiologic:
   - Mini Schnauzers
   - Poodles
   - Daschunds
   All due to smaller numbers of nRBCs in health
   - Regenerative response to anemia

Question 19

Reticulocytes

Answer 19

Slightly immature, anucleated RBCs that contain RNA
- Will appear more blue due to age
- They’re still “wet”

Question 20

Band cell

Answer 20

• 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.

Question 21

Toxic neutrophil

Hint: Growing up in war conditions

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Reactive Lymphocytes

Answer 22

“Reactive” lymphocytes are larger cells with coarse (mature) chromatin, and deep blue cytoplasm

Question 23

Lymphoblast

Answer 23

Immature, large, dark nucleus with rim of cytoplasm. Cell is large.
- Inflammation
- Leukemia

Question 24

____ are a first defense against hemorrhage

Answer 24

Platelets

Question 25

T/F: Platelets are produced by megakaryocytes outside the bone marrow

Answer 25

False! Trick question: they are produced IN the bone marrow!