Lecture 1a

Question 1

Define anemia.

Answer 1

Reduction in total number of RBCs, amount of Hb or RBC mass in circulation

Question 2

Define polycythemia.

Answer 2

Increase in total number of RBCs, amount of Hb and RBC mass in circulation

Question 3

Define anisocytosis.

Answer 3

Variation in size, RDW(red blood cell width) > 14.5%

Question 4

Define Poikilocytosis.

Answer 4

Variation in shape

Question 5

Define polychromasia.

Answer 5

Increased in reticulocytes in peripheral blood stream due to being released prematurely

Question 6

Define hypochromia.

Answer 6

Central pallor > 1/3rd the size of RBC

Question 7

Define microcytosis.

Answer 7

Abnormally small RBCs

Question 8

Define macrocytosis.

Answer 8

Abnormally large RBcs

Question 9

Define Acanthocyte.

Answer 9

Irregularly spiculated RBC
Example: abetalipoproteinemia

Question 10

Define Echinocyte.

Answer 10

RBCs with short, regular spicules
Example: uremia

Question 11

Define spherocyte.

Answer 11

RBC w/o central pallor.
Example: hereditary spherocytosis

Question 12

Define Ovalocyte.

Answer 12

Elliptical RBC
Example: Hereditary elliptocytosis

Question 13

Define schistocyte.

Answer 13

Fragmented, bi-, or tripolar spiculated RBC
Example: DIC (Disseminated intravascular coagulation )

Question 14

Define sickle cell.

Answer 14

Bipolar spiculated RBC
Example: sickle cell disease

Question 15

Define stomatocyte.

Answer 15

Mouth-like deformity
Example: hereditary stomatocytosis

Question 16

Define target cell.

Answer 16

RBC with concentric circles
Example: thalassemias

Question 17

Define tear drop.

Answer 17

Unipolar spiculated RBC
Example: myelofibrosis

Question 18

How much of our body weight is blood?

Answer 18

7-8% of total body weight
average male: 12 pints
average female: 9 pints

Question 19

What are the blood functions?

Answer 19

O2 and nutrient transportation
Blood loss prevention (clotting)
Immune response to fight infection
Carries waste to kidney and liver
Body temperature regulation

Question 20

What are the 4 components of blood?

Answer 20

Plasma
RBC
WBC
Platelets(Plt)

Question 21

What is plasma made of?

Answer 21

Translucent, thin fluid
Water and salt from intestinal lining
Consists of 90% of water, rest are proteins, hormones, insulin, electrolytes, nutrients

Question 22

Where are blood cells produced?

Answer 22

Bone marrow
Extra medullary sites including the liver and spleen

Question 23

What are the functions of plasma?

Answer 23

Transport blood cells, proteins, antibodies, etc.
Maintains blood pressure

Question 24

What is the most abundant blood cell?

Answer 24

Erythocytes

Question 25

What are the characteristics and functions of erythrocytes?

Answer 25

Flexible, bright red biconcave disc Oxygenation of tissue Production stimulated by erythropoietin from kidneys 120days lifespan

Question 26

What are the types of WBC?

Answer 26

Neutrophil(most abundant, <1day lifespan) Lymphocyte Monocyte Eosinophil Basophil

Question 27

What are the characteristics/functions of platelets?

Answer 27

Cell fragments, w/o a nucleus Extra platelets are stored in the spleen Production stimulated by thrombopoietin, hormone related by liver and kidney 7-10days lifespan

Question 28

What is the role of platelets?

Answer 28

Clotting

Question 29

What are the components of CBC?

Answer 29

WBC RBC Hemoglobin Hematocrit Mean corpuscular volume(MCV) Mean corpuscular hemoglobin(MCH) Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations(MCHC) Red blood cell distribution width(RDW) Platelet

Question 30

What can WBC on a lab be often identified as?

Answer 30

Percentages and absolute values

Question 31

What causes variability in hemoglobin levels?

Answer 31

Sex: higher in males Age: higher in young infants high altitudes/smokers: higher pregnancy: lower ethnicity: varies

Question 32

Define hematocrit.

Answer 32

A ratio of volume of RBC to volume of blood

Question 33

How do you calculate hematocrit?

Answer 33

Hct = (RBC x MCV)/10 Hct = Hgb x 3

Question 34

Define mean corpuscular volume (MCV).

Answer 34

Reflects the individual size of RBC

Question 35

What does it mean when MCV is low or high?

Answer 35

Low MCV: microcytosis(small cell size) Normal MCV: normocytosis(normal cell size) High MCV: macrocytosis(large cell size)

Question 36

Define mean corpuscular hemoglobin(MCH).

Answer 36

Amount(weight) of hemoglobin per RBC Directly related to RBC size

Question 37

What does it mean when MCH is low or high?

Answer 37

Low MCH: hypochromia normal: normochromia high MCH: hyperchromia

Question 38

How do you calculate MCH?

Answer 38

MCH = (Hgb/RBC) x 10

Question 39

Define mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC).

Answer 39

Average hgb concentration in each RBC

Question 40

How do you calculate MCHC?

Answer 40

MCHC = Hgb/Hct (%)

Question 41

Define red cell distribution width (RDW).

Answer 41

Measures the percent of RBC that fall out of normal range in size directly related to changes in MCV

Question 42

What can cause increased RDW?

Answer 42

Reticulocytosis defined as anisocytosis

Question 43

What does it mean a mean platelet volume (MPV) is low or high?

Answer 43

Increase MPV means increase platelet production Decrease MPV means decrease platelet production younger platelets are larger in size

Question 44

What does a peripheral blood smear measure?

Answer 44

Manually assesses blood cell morphology and cell count (platelets, RBC, WBC) Visualization of neoplastic cells derived from bone marrow (lymphoid cells, myeloid cells)

Question 45

What is an abnormally shaped RBC called?

Answer 45

Poikilocyte