Unit 2 Definitions

Question 1

Define Anisocytosis

Answer 1

• increased variation in cell size

Question 2

Define Duffy coat

Answer 2

The fraction of anticoagulated blood containing WBCs & Plts

Question 3

Define dyscrasia

Answer 3

An abnormal state of the body/body part.

Question 4

Define erythropoietin (EPO)

Answer 4

Glycoprotein hormone (MW = 46,000 D) that stimulates erythropoiesis; produced mainly by kidneys in tissue hypoxia

Question 5

Define Fanconi’s anemia

Answer 5

Congenital form of a plastic anemia; BM failure, physical abnormalities, organ defects, hypopigmentation (cafe-au-lait spots), & increased cancer risk

Question 6

Define hypoplasia

Answer 6

Incomplete development of an organism/tissue; an inadequate or below-normal number cells of cells

Question 7

Define hypoxia

Answer 7

A decrease of oxygen in the body tissues

Question 8

Define lipemia

Answer 8

Elevated emulsified fats (lipids) in the blood

Question 9

Define hemolyze

Answer 9

Destroyed RBC release Hgb into the plasma

Question 10

Define hemolytic

Answer 10

Involving the rupture/destruction of RBCs

Question 11

Define Iatrogenic

Answer 11

A condition induced by an illness/disorder caused by medical examination/treatment

Question 12

Define hyperbilirubinemia

Answer 12

• also called icteric and icterus
• elevated bilirubin in plasma; bright to dark yellow of serum

Question 13

Define macrocytosis

Answer 13

Increased large cells

Question 14

Define microcytosis

Answer 14

Increased small cells

Question 15

Define myelodysplastic syndrome

Answer 15

Immature blood cells fail to develop normally

Question 16

Define normocytic/normochromic

Answer 16

Normal cell size

Question 17

Define pancytopenia

Answer 17

Condition occurring when all 3 blood cell types are low (RBCs, WBCs, & platelets, usually due to problems with the BM; can be brought on by cancer and AI conditions like lupus

Question 18

Define pernicious anemia

Answer 18

Type of megaloblastic anemia in which the body isn’t able to absorb vitamin B12 due to lack of intrinsic factor in stomach secretions

Question 19

Define poikilocytosis

Answer 19

Increased variations in RBC shapes

Question 20

Define polycythemia

Answer 20

In increase in RBCs in the circulatory systems

Question 21

Define polycythemia Vera

Answer 21

A blood dyscrasia in which RBCs, WBCs, & Plts are all increased above normal

Question 22

Define primary polycythemia

Answer 22

Inherent (genetic); caused by mutations in BM cells: blood thickens & clots; elevated RBCs + low levels of EPO

Question 23

Define relative polycythemia

Answer 23

Increases in RBCs resulting from conditions not related to increased production of EPO

Question 24

Define secondary polycythemia/erythrocytosis

Answer 24

• Increased RBCs in blood
• may be genetic
• some other conditions causing polycythemia, usually an excess of EPO by the kidneys
• can be caused by sleep apnea, lung/heart disease, or performance enhancing drugs; elevated RBCs + high levels of EPO