Introduction

Question 1

where are blood cells produced

Answer 1

bone marrow

Question 2

blood cells are produced by a process called _________

Answer 2

haematopoiesis

Question 3

the sites of haematopoiesis vary with age, true or false

Answer 3

true

Question 4

sites of haematopoiesis in the embryo

Answer 4

initially in the yolk sac.
then the liver then the marrow, with the spleen being a site from 3rd to 7th month

Question 5

sites of haematopoiesis at birth

Answer 5

mostly bone marrow, but liver and spleen when needed

Question 6

sites of haematopoiesis as we grow

Answer 6

active marrow sites decrease but retain the ability, active marrow is confined to axial skeleton eventually

Question 7

what has to happen to turn a haematopoietic stem cell into a blood cell?

Answer 7

• proliferation
• differentiation into specialist cell
• but also stem cell renewal for the future

Question 8

what is thrombopoiesis

Answer 8

platelet formation

Question 9

what are the different types of white cell we see in the blood

Answer 9

• granulocytes
• monocytes
• lymphocytes

Question 10

what are the most common type of white cell seen in the blood

Answer 10

granulocytes

Question 11

in clinical practice what tools do we have to look at the haematopoietic system?

Answer 11

• look at the peripheral blood (FBC and blood film)
• look at the bone marrow (marrow biopsy)
• specialised tests (e.g. immuniphenotyping, genetic tests)
• look at other sites of relevance to blood production (e.g. splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy)

Question 12

how many red cells are made per minute

Answer 12

approx 100 million

Question 13

how many neutrophils are made per minute

Answer 13

approx 60 million

Question 14

what is the final product of granulopoiesis

Answer 14

neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils

Question 15

what is the initial cell called in granulopoiesis, erythropoiesis

Answer 15

blast cell

Question 16

what is a red cell called in its first few days of life before it’s mature

Answer 16

reticulocyte

Question 17

in platelet formation, does the cytoplasm divide

Answer 17

no

Question 18

types of granulocyte

Answer 18

neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils

Question 19

which stain do eosinophil granules take up

Answer 19

eosin (which is red and acidic)

Question 20

what stain do basophil granules take up

Answer 20

basic dyes (alkali) which are densely blue

Question 21

what stain do neutrophil granules take up

Answer 21

mix of both, so neutral

Question 22

when do neutrophil numbers increase (3 points)

Answer 22

bacterial infection
trauma
infarction

Question 23

neutrophils have a segmented nucleus, true or false

Answer 23

true

Question 24

nucleus of eosinophils

Answer 24

bilobed (two lobes)

Question 25

eosinophils function

Answer 25

• we’re kind of unsure
• numbers are increased with parasitic infections
• involved in hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions
• true function may be less apparent - involved in immune regulation in a more general sense

Question 26

why might eosinophil levels be elevated in patients with asthma?

Answer 26

involved in hypersensitivity

Question 27

basophils are a circulating version of a tissue ______ cell

Answer 27

mast

Question 28

monocytes share the same precursor cell as ___________

Answer 28

granulocytes

Question 29

monocytes role in tissues

Answer 29

eat things up (macrophage means a big eater), and presenting antigen to immune cells and releasing signals to attract other cells

Question 30

monocytes nucleus

Answer 30

large single nucleus

Question 31

which are bigger, mature lymphocytes or activated lymphocytes?

Answer 31

activated lymphocytes

Question 32

what can we use to differentiate between different haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells?

Answer 32

immunophenotyping

Question 33

where do we perform a bone marrow biopsy

Answer 33

posterior iliac crest