Introduction to Hematology Flashcards

1
Q

What is anemia?

A

The reduction in total number of RBCs or amount of Hb or RBC mass in circulation

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2
Q

What is polycythemia?

A

An increase in total number of RBC, amount of Hb, and RBC mass in circulation

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3
Q

What is anisocytosis?

A

Variation in size, RDW >14.5%

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4
Q

What is poikilocytosis?

A

Variation in shape

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5
Q

What is polychromasia?

A

Increase in reticulocytes in the peripheral blood stream due to being released prematurely

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6
Q

What is hypochromia?

A

Central pallor > 1/3 the size of RBC

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7
Q

What is microcytosis?

A

Abnormally small RBCs

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8
Q

What is macrocytosis?

A

Abnormally large RBCs

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9
Q

What is an acanthocyte?

A

Irregularly spiculated RBC. IE abetalipoproteinemia

(Thorns/spurs on RBC membrane)

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10
Q

What is an echinocyte?

A

RBCs with short, regular spicules. IE uremia

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11
Q

What is a spherocyte?

A

RBC without central pallor. IE hereditary spherocytosis

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12
Q

What is an ovalocyte?

A

Elliptical RBC. IE hereditary elliptocytosis

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13
Q

What is a schistocyte?

A

Fragmented, bi- or tripolar spiculated RBC. IE DIC

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14
Q

What is a sickle cell?

A

A bipolar spiculated RBC. IE sickle cell disease

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15
Q

What is a stomatocyte?

A

Mouth-like deformity. IE hereditary stomatocytosis

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16
Q

What is a target cell?

A

RBC with concentric circles. IE thalassemias

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17
Q

What is a tear drop?

A

Unipolar spiculated RBC. IE myelofibrosis.

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18
Q

How much blood is in the adult human? Pints and percent body weight

A

Females: 9 pints
Males: 12 pints
Which is 7-8% of total body weight

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19
Q

What are the functions of blood (5)?

A
  1. transportation of 02/nutrients
  2. Blood loss prevention via clotting
  3. fight infection via WBC
  4. carry waste to kidney and liver
  5. regulate temperature of body
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20
Q

What are the components of whole blood from most to least abundant?

A
  1. plasma 55%
  2. RBC 45%
  3. WBC <1%
  4. Platelets <1%
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21
Q

Where does plasma come from?

A

Water and salt absorbed from the large intestine

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22
Q

Where do blood cells come from?

A

Bone marrow primarily but also extramedullary sites of liver and spleen

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23
Q

What is plasma made of?

A

Water 90%
Proteins
Hormones
Insulin
Electrolytes
Nutrients

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24
Q

What is the purpose of plasma (2)?

A
  1. transport blood cells, proteins, antibodies
  2. maintain blood pressure
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25
Q

What stimulates RBC production?

A

EPO from kidneys stimulates bone marrow

26
Q

What is the lifespan of a RBC

A

120 days or 4 months

27
Q

What breaks down RBC?

A

The spleen breaks down RBC. The spleen then sends the billirubin to the liver that excrets billirubin into the stool.

28
Q

What stimulates platelet production?

A

Thrombopoietin which is released by the liver and kidneys.

29
Q

What is the lifespan of a platelet?

A

7-10 days

30
Q

Where are extra platelets stored?

A

spleen

31
Q

What is a WBC?

A

White Blood Cell
Measures total number of WBC in a microliter of blood
Normal range 4.5-11

32
Q

What is leukocytosis?

A

Increased WBC

33
Q

What is leukopenia?

A

Decreased WBC

34
Q

What is an RBC?

A

Red blood cells
Measures the total number of RBC in a microliter of blood.
Normal range male: 4-6, female 3.5-5.

35
Q

What is erythrocytosis?

A

Increased RBC

36
Q

What is erythrocytopenia?

A

Decreased RBC

37
Q

Why do males and females have a different RBC range?

A

Estrogen and androgens effect of erthyropoesis in the kidney due to changes in the microvasculature.

38
Q

What is Hgb?

A

Hemoglobin
A four part protein molecule that carries O2 and CO2
Normal range: male 14-17.5, females 12-16.

39
Q

What variables effect Hgb (5)?

A
  1. sex (males are higher)
  2. Age (high in infants)
  3. altitude/smoking (high at high alt and smokers)
  4. Pregnancy (low in preg)
  5. Ethnicity (slight variations)
40
Q

What is Hct?

A

Hematocrit
A ratio of the volume of RBC to the volume of blood
Hct = Hgb*3
Normal male:39-49, female 35-45%

41
Q

What is MCV?

A

Mean corpuscular volume
reflects the individual size of the RBC
Normal value: 80-100fL

42
Q

What is microcytosis?

A

Low MCV
Small RBC size

43
Q

What is normocytosis?

A

Normal MCV
Normal RBC size

44
Q

What is macrocytosis?

A

High MCV
Large RBC size

45
Q

What is MCH?

A

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
the amount (weight) of Hgb per RBC (Note this is directly related to the RBC size/ MCV)
Normal range 27-33 pg

46
Q

What is hypochromia?

A

Low MCH

47
Q

What is normochromia?

A

Normal MCH

48
Q

What is hyperchromia?

A

High MCH

49
Q

What is the calculation for MCH?

A

MCH = Hgb/RBC * 10

50
Q

What is the MCHC?

A

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
The average hgb concentration in each RBC (Takes the volume/size of the RBC into consideration)
Normal range 31-36%

51
Q

What is the calculation for the MCHC?

A

MCHC = Hgb / Hct *100%

52
Q

What is the RDW?

A

Red cell distribution width
Percent of RBC that fall out of the normal range of size (related to changes in MCV)
Normal: 11.5-14.5%
Note: really only an elevated value!

53
Q

What does an elevated RDW tell us?

A

The patient has anisocytosis which indicates that the patient has an acute problem <120 days because some RBC are still normal sized (old) and some are small (new).

54
Q

What is a platelet count?

A

The total number of platelets in the blood.
Normal range: 150-450

55
Q

What is thrombocytopenia?

A

Low platelets

56
Q

What is thrombocytosis?

A

A condition causing high platelets

57
Q

What is thrombocythemia?

A

High platelets with an unknown cause

58
Q

What is MPV?

A

Mean platelet volume
Average size of platelets
Normal: 7.5-11.5 fL

59
Q

What does a high MPV indicate?

A

Increased platelet production because younger platelets are larger in size

60
Q

What does a low MPV indicate?

A

Decreased platelet production. Could indicate damage to bone marrow.

61
Q

What does a peripheral blood smear assess?

A

Blood cell morphology and cell count. Can also visualize neoplastic cells (lymphoid or myeloid cells) from bone marrow