MLS 1114 Unit 2 Study Questions

Flashcards for reviewing key vocabulary and concepts related to hematopoiesis, hemolysis, and anemia.

Hematopoiesis

The formation of blood cells in the body.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a stable internal environment in the body.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death, a normal part of cell lifecycle.

Necrosis

Uncontrolled cell death due to injury or disease.

Definitive Erythropoiesis

The process of red blood cell formation in the bone marrow.

Medullary Hematopoiesis

Blood cell production in the bone marrow.

Extramedullary Hematopoiesis

Blood cell production outside the bone marrow (e.g., spleen, liver).

Osteoblast

A cell that secretes the matrix for bone formation.

Osteoclast

A cell that absorbs bone tissue.

Hyperplastic Bone Marrow

Bone marrow with increased cellularity, often due to increased cell production.

Hypoplastic Bone Marrow

Bone marrow with decreased cellularity, often due to decreased cell production.

Culling (Spleen)

The process by which the spleen removes damaged or old red blood cells from the circulation.

Pitting (Spleen)

The process by which the spleen removes inclusions or abnormalities from red blood cells without destroying the cell itself.

Hypersplenism

A condition characterized by an enlarged spleen and a reduction in one or more cell lines (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets).

Splenomegaly

Enlargement of the spleen.

Cell Differentiation

The process by which a cell becomes specialized in structure and function.

Cell Commitment

The stage in cell development when a cell's fate is restricted to a specific lineage.

Cell Maturation

The process by which a cell progresses through its developmental stages to become fully functional.

Cytokines/Chemokines

Signaling molecules that regulate cell maturation and differentiation in hematopoiesis.

EPO (Erythropoietin)

A hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates red blood cell production.

Reticulocyte

An immature red blood cell that contains residual RNA.

Reticulocytosis

An increased number of reticulocytes in the peripheral blood, indicating increased red blood cell production.

Polychromatic Erythrocyte

An immature red blood cell that stains bluish-gray with Wright stain due to the presence of RNA.

Hemolysis

The destruction of red blood cells.

Extravascular Hemolysis

The destruction of red blood cells outside of the blood vessels, typically by macrophages in the spleen or liver.

Intravascular Hemolysis

The destruction of red blood cells within the blood vessels.

Anemia

A condition characterized by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in reduced oxygen-carrying capacity.

Acanthocyte

A red blood cell with irregularly spaced, thorn-like projections.

Echinocyte

A red blood cell with evenly spaced, short, blunt projections; also known as a burr cell.

Pappenheimer Bodies

Small, irregular granules of iron within red blood cells.

Basophilic Stippling

The presence of small, blue-staining granules (RNA) within red blood cells.

Microcytic Anemia

Anemia characterized by small red blood cells (low MCV).

Macrocytic Anemia

Anemia characterized by large red blood cells (high MCV).

Intrinsic Erythrocyte Defect

A defect within the red blood cell itself that leads to its premature destruction or dysfunction.

TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity)

A measure of the blood's capacity to bind iron with transferrin.

IDA (Iron Deficiency Anemia)

Anemia caused by insufficient iron to produce hemoglobin.

ACD (Anemia of Chronic Disease)

Anemia associated with chronic inflammatory, infectious, or malignant conditions.

Sideroblastic Anemia

Anemia characterized by the presence of ringed sideroblasts in the bone marrow.

Thalassemia

A group of inherited blood disorders characterized by decreased or absent production of globin chains.

Hemoglobinopathy

A genetic defect that results in abnormal structure of one of the globin chains of the hemoglobin molecule.

Intrinsic Factor

A protein produced in the stomach that is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12.

HDFN (Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn)

A type of anemia that occurs when the mother's antibodies attack the red blood cells of the fetus or newborn.

MAHA (Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia)

A type of anemia caused by the destruction of red blood cells as they pass through damaged small blood vessels.

Aplastic Anemia

A condition in which the bone marrow fails to produce enough blood cells.

Megaloblastic Anemia

A type of macrocytic anemia characterized by the presence of abnormally large, nucleated red blood cell precursors in the bone marrow.

Ineffective Erythropoiesis

The production of defective red blood cells that are prematurely destroyed in the bone marrow.

Insufficient Erythropoiesis

A decreased production of red blood cells due to various factors.

Hypoproliferative Anemia

Anemia due to decreased red blood cell production.