Red Blood Cells

Question 1

Hemoglobin

Answer 1

Measure heme pigment in whole blood

• Hgb allows for O2 transport and excretionof CO2
• highly age and sex dependent

Question 2

Hematocrit

Answer 2

Hematocrit is % of volume of blood that is composed of erythrocytes

• usually about 3x the value of hgb but may vary with size of RBCs
• affected by levels of hydration

Question 3

Rule of 3

Answer 3

Applies to normocytic, normochromic erythrocytes only.

Useful to detect laboratory error in measuring the hgb, HCT, and RBC count

Question 4

Erythrocytes

Answer 4

Produced in the bone marrow
Life span in 120 days
Primary function is gas (oxygen and carbon dioxide) transport
Immature version has nucleus and is called a reticulocyte.

Baby red blood cells = reticulocyte

Question 5

Anemia

Answer 5

Anemia is a decrease in RBC count

• decreases production
• increased destruction
• blood loss

Question 6

Polycythemia

Answer 6

Increased RBC count
Primary cause - bone marrow produces excess RBC

Secondary- living in altitude. Chronic lung and heart dx, tobacco use and carbon monoxide.

Question 7

Mean Corpuscular Volume

Answer 7

Size of RBC

Volume (or size) occupied by a single RBC

Question 8

Macrocytic

Answer 8

Increase in MCV

(Big size RBC)

B12 and folic acid deficiencies

Question 9

Micocytic

Answer 9

Decrease size in RBC

Iron deficiency and thalassemia

Question 10

Normocytic anemia’s

Answer 10

Blood loss

Hemolytic anemia

Question 11

Microcytic anemias

Answer 11

Iron deficiency

Question 12

Macrocytic anemia’s

Answer 12

Folic acid deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Some COPD patients

Question 13

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin

Answer 13

The measure of the average weight of hemoglobin within a RBC

How much oxygen on RBC

Question 14

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)

Answer 14

Measure of the concentration of hemoglobin (%) in an average RBC.

How red the RBC is

Question 15

Hypochromic anemia

Answer 15

Decrease in MCHC

Iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia

Question 16

Normochromic anemia

Answer 16

Normal red blood cell color

Question 17

RBC distribution width (RDW)

Answer 17

An indication of the variation of size in RBCs

Increased in untreated and resolving iron, vit B12 and folate deficiency

Question 18

Anisocytosis

Answer 18

RBCs if variable and abnormal size

Question 19

Reticulocytes

Answer 19

Immature RBC (baby red blood cells)

Reflects ability of bone marrow to produce RBCs in response to anemia.

Can be used to monitor anemic patients response to vitamin or iron therapy.

Question 20

Blood loss

Answer 20

Increase reticulocyte means anemia due to blood loss

Question 21

Anemia

Answer 21

Decreased reticulocyte indicates anemia due to bone marrow dx

Question 22

Thrombocytes (platelets)

Answer 22

Responsible for clotting and maintenance of vascular integrity.

Average life span 7-9 days

ASA is irreversibly bound to platelets.

Platelet function can be altered by drugs, common foods, spices, vitamins and systemic conditions such as chronic renal dx, and certain hematological disorders.

Question 23

Thrombocytes less of 50,000

Answer 23

Places pt at increased risk for bleeding episodes even with minor trauma.

Question 24

Thrombocytes less than 20,000

Answer 24

Can cause spontaneous bleeding, including petechia and ecchymosis out of nowhere.

Question 25

Thrombocytopenia

Answer 25

Low platelet count

Causes

• reduces production of platelets (bone marrow failure, tumor)
• accelerated destruction of platelets (antibodies, infections, drugs, prosthetic heart valves)
• increased consumption of platelets (DIC)
• platelet loss from hemorrhage
• dilution (large volumes of blood transfusion with very few platelets.)