Unit 11 Hemotology

Question 1

How does blood separate in a centrifuge?

Answer 1

Heavy RBCs go to the bottom, leaving a “buffy layer” of lighter WBCs and platelets in the middle, and plasma on top.

Question 2

Describe the organic and inorganic elements of plasma?

Answer 2

Organic consist of: Amino Acids, Proteins, Glucose, Lipids, and Nitrogenous waste

Inorganic consist of: Water, Ions, Gases, and Trace elements and vitamins.

Question 3

Describe the job of RBCs, WBCs, and Platelets.

Answer 3

RBCs: transport oxygen and carbon dioxide

WBCs: Immune response

Platelets: Cell fragments that are essential to blood clotting (Coagulation)

Question 4

Distinguished the functions of WBC subtypes. (Lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils)

Answer 4

Lymphocytes: Produce specific immune responses directed against invaders.

Monocytes: Phagocytes that develop into macrophages.

Neutrophils: Phagocytes that engulf foreign particles.

Eosinophils: Produce toxic compounds directed against invading pathogens.

Basophils: aka Mast cells, allergy response.

Question 5

What is hematopoiesis?

Answer 5

Synthesis of blood cells in the marrow of all bones.

Bone marrow contains hemoglobin

Controlled by cytokines

Question 6

What is Pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell?

Answer 6

-Cells that develop into many different cell types.

Found in bone marrow

Stem cells -> Progenitor cells (differentiate into RBCs, WBCs and platelets) -> develop into different cells

Question 7

What are the major cytokines the regulate RBCs, WBCs, and Thrombopocyte maturation?

Answer 7

RBCs- Erythropoietin (EPO)

WBCs- Colony-stimulating factors, interleukins, stem cell factor

Thrombocyte maturation- Thrombopietin (TPO)

Question 8

Describe function and characteristics of RBCs.

Answer 8

Biconcave disk lacking a nucleus. They contain hemoglobin, a red oxygen-carrying pigment.

Question 9

What is hemoglobin?

Answer 9

Oxygen-binding protein of red blood cells.

Question 10

What is bilirubin?

Answer 10

The spleen and liver convert remnants of the heme groups of hemoglobin to a colored pigment.

It’s carried by plasma albumin to the liver, where it’s metabolized and secreted as bile.

When elevated it causes jaundice

Question 11

What are the causes of anemia based on RBC status?

Answer 11

Low hemoglobin content

(Blood loss)

Aplastic Anemia caused by certain drug or radiation

Anemia can be caused by iron deficiency, folic acid deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency

Question 12

What is Complete Blood Count (CBC) and its utility?

Answer 12

A blood panel that provides information about the status of a persons blood.

They are compared to normative standard ranges typically found in males and females

Abnormalities CBC values may indicate the potential for disease, including anemia, infection, allergy, and cancer.

Question 13

What are high and low hematocrit conditions?

Answer 13

High hematocrit suggest, dehydration or polycythemia

Low hematocrit suggest anemia

Question 14

What is the difference between total and differential WBC counts?

Answer 14

Indicates the body’s ability to fight infection

Total: includes all types of leukocytes but does not distinguish between them

Differential: Estimates relative proportions of each type of leukocytes

Question 15

What are conditions associated with high and low WBC counts?

Answer 15

High: Infection, inflammation

Low: Cancer, chemotherapy or malnutrition

Question 16

What is hemostasis and the major steps?

Answer 16

Hemostasis keeps the blood within a damaged blood vessels

1) vasoconstriction
2) blockage of platelet plug
3) coagulation

Question 17

Describe the formation of platelet plug.

Answer 17

Plug formation begins with platelet adhesion to exposed collagen in the damaged area. The adhered platelets become activated, releasing cytokines into the area around injury.

It’s a positive feedback loop

Question 18

What is coagulation cascade and its two pathways?

Answer 18

Coagulation cascade is a series of enzymatic reactions

Two pathways:
Intrinsic pathway- platelet and clotting factor

Extrinsic pathway- Tissue factor

Both pathways come together to make up clot

Question 19

Define fibrinolysis.

Answer 19

As a damaged vessel wall slowly repairs itself, the clot disintegrates when fibrin is broken into fragments by the enzyme plasmin. Plasmin then breaks down into fibrin.

Question 20

What are high or low hemoglobin conditions?

Answer 20

High hemoglobin suggest, polycythemia, renal cancer, or living in high altitude

Low hemoglobin suggest suggest anemia

Question 21

After four months when the RBCs die, where do they go?

Answer 21

They go to the spleen, and the hemoglobin from the dying cells are converted to bilirubin.