Unit 11 Patho Flashcards
How does blood separate in a centrifuge?
Heavy RBCs go to the bottom, leaving a “buffy layer” of lighter WBCs and platelets in the middle, and plasma on top.
Describe the organic and inorganic elements of plasma?
Organic consist of: Amino Acids, Proteins, Glucose, Lipids, and Nitrogenous waste
Inorganic consist of: Water, Ions, Gases, and Trace elements and vitamins.
Describe the job of RBCs, WBCs, and Platelets.
RBCs: transport oxygen and carbon dioxide
WBCs: Immune response
Platelets: Cell fragments that are essential to blood clotting (Coagulation)
Distinguished the functions of WBC subtypes. (Lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils)
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.
What is hematopoiesis?
Synthesis of blood cells in the marrow of all bones.
Bone marrow contains hemoglobin
Controlled by cytokines
What is Pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell?
-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
What are the major cytokines the regulate RBCs, WBCs, and Thrombopocyte maturation?
RBCs- Erythropoietin (EPO)
WBCs- Colony-stimulating factors, interleukins, stem cell factor
Thrombocyte maturation- Thrombopietin (TPO)
Describe function and characteristics of RBCs.
Biconcave disk lacking a nucleus. They contain hemoglobin, a red oxygen-carrying pigment.
What is hemoglobin?
Oxygen-binding protein of red blood cells.
What is bilirubin?
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
What are the causes of anemia based on RBC status?
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
What is Complete Blood Count (CBC) and its utility?
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.
What are high and low hematocrit conditions?
High hematocrit suggest, dehydration or polycythemia
Low hematocrit suggest anemia
What is the difference between total and differential WBC counts?
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
What are conditions associated with high and low WBC counts?
High: Infection, inflammation
Low: Cancer, chemotherapy or malnutrition
What is hemostasis and the major steps?
Hemostasis keeps the blood within a damaged blood vessels
1) vasoconstriction
2) blockage of platelet plug
3) coagulation
Describe the formation of platelet plug.
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
What is coagulation cascade and its two pathways?
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
Define fibrinolysis.
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.
What are high or low hemoglobin conditions?
High hemoglobin suggest, polycythemia, renal cancer, or living in high altitude
Low hemoglobin suggest suggest anemia
After four months when the RBCs die, where do they go?
They go to the spleen, and the hemoglobin from the dying cells are converted to bilirubin.
