Pathology and Blood Flashcards
Define Symptom, Sign, Diagnosis and Prognosis
Symptom - complaint reported by patient
Sign - evidence of disease observed by examining physician
Diagnosis - naming of disease to allow treatment
Prognosis - predicted course of disease
Define Idiopathic and Iatrogenic
Idiopathic - unknown cause
Iatrogenic - caused by medical personnel, procedures or overexposure to healthcare environment
Define Aetology, Pathogenesis, Morphological features and Complications
Aetology - cause of disease
Pathogenesis - Mechanism of cause
Morphlogical functions - effects of the mechanism
Complications - 2ndary effects of mechanism
What is Hypertrophy?
Increase in the size of cells in a tissue
What is hyperplasia?
Increase in the number of cells in a tissue
What is Atrophy?
Decrease in the size of cells in a tissue
What is Involution?
Decrease in the number of cells in a tissue
What is metaplasia?
Change in cell type
What is Neoplasia?
Permanent alteration of a normal cellular growth (tumours)
What is blood made up of?
45% cells, 55% plasma
What does albumin do?
Controls oncotic pressure, transports molecules in the blood, narker of inflammation
What does Fibrinogen do?
Is a fibrni precursor and is converted into fibrin to form clots by thrombin
What are the cellular components of blood?
98% RBCs
2% WBCs
Trace - platelets
What is the average size of a RBC and how long is the verage lifespan?
6-7um in diameter, 120 days
What are the 2 groups of WBCs?
Granulocytes and Mononuclear leukocytes
What are the granulocytes and their functions?
Neutrophils - Phagocytosis of invading organisms
Basophils - Secretion of heparin and histamine
Eosinophils - Phagocytosis of parasites
What are the mononuclear leukocytes and their functions?
Lymphocytes - Immune response
Monocyte - Phagocytosis (called macrophage in tissue)
How are platelets formed and what is their lifespan?
Megakaryocyte is broken down into platelets. 8-10 days
What are the 7 common blood tests?
Full blood count Haemocrit Erythrocyte sedimentation rate Haemoglobin levels Mean cell Haemoglobin (MCH) Mean cell volume (MCV) Mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
What does a full blood count do and what do abnormalities signify?
RBCs, WBCs and platelets are counted for monitoring liver function (amongst other things).
Low WBCs = Bone marrow failure
High WBCs = Leukaemia or infection
What does Haemocrit test?
%RBC in blood
Normal = 45%
30% = anaemia
70% = Polycythaemia or dehydration
What does MCH test for?
Average weight og haemoglobin/RBC
MCH increase = B12 deficiency, folic acid deficiency, haemolytic anaemia
MCH decrease = Iron deficiency, thalassemia
What does MCV test for?
Average volume of Haemoglobin = 80-100fL
Microcytic = <80fL
Macrocytic = >100fL
What does MCHC test for?
Average [Hb] in a specific volume.
Normochromic = 32-36 g/dl
Hypochromic = <32 g/dl
Hyperchromic = >36 g/dl
