Introduction to Haematology

Question 1

How many litres of blood is in the human body

Answer 1

5 litres of blood

Question 2

Plasma vs Serum

Answer 2

Plasma is the blood liquid while serum is after coagulation

Question 3

Plasma Proteins and their functions

Answer 3

Albumins - Transport/Colloidal osmotic pressure
Globulins - Transport, clotting, precursors to hormones, defence
Fibrinogen - Clotting

Question 4

Diameter of erythrocytes

Answer 4

7-8 micrometres

Question 5

HbA1c

Answer 5

Glycosylated Haemoglobin (Average blood glucose levels)

Question 6

Immunocytes

Answer 6

Another word for lymphocytes

Question 7

Why is leukemia so insane and dangerous

Answer 7

Mutation in one cell can lead to mutations in many many millions of daughter cells

Question 8

Colony stimulating factors

Answer 8

Proteins that cause the proliferation of bone marrow cells and differentiation into certain cells (usually WBCs)

Question 9

How to calculate MCV

Answer 9

Hematocrit as decimal/RBC Count

Question 10

Microcytic Anaemia

Answer 10

Small RBCs characterised by low MCV

Question 11

Macrocytic Anaemia

Answer 11

Lower Hb because of bigger RBCs but less of them

Question 12

How does alcohol affect blood cells

Answer 12

Alcohol affects bone marrow leading to larger than usual blood cells

Question 13

Fentilitres to L

Answer 13

1 x 10^-15 L = 1 fL

Question 14

Interpret -philia, -cytosis and -penia as suffixes for WBC and platelet counts

Answer 14

Philia/Cytosis (e.g. neutrophilia) increased neutrophil count

Penia (e.g. neutropenia) decreased neutrophil count

Question 15

Pancytopenia

Answer 15

Reduction in all cell counts

**pan [all] cyto [cell] penia [reduction])

Question 16

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia

Answer 16

Lower platelet count for unknown reason

Question 17

Dx

Answer 17

Diagnosis

Question 18

What does raised C-reactive protein indicate

Answer 18

It is a side effect of infection/inflammation so it acts as a marker of such things

Question 19

If mother is rhesus negative blood type and foetus is +, how would her body respond

Answer 19

The body would respond by having her antibodies attack the antigens on blood of the foetus after birth and it mixes

Question 20

How does Anti-D immunisation allow the birth of RhD+ babies to RhD- mothers

Answer 20

Anti-D immunoglobulins bind any of the blood antigens of the baby to prevent the mothers body being exposed to it
and making antibodies

Question 21

Why is first RhD+ baby usually safe even with RhD- mother

Answer 21

Foetal and maternal blood are kept separate until birth where tearing and stuff causes mixing

Miscarriages can cause an exception