Hematology

Hematology

• study of blood

Blood Components

• 55% Watery Plasma

  • glucose, amino acids, hormones

• 45% Formed Elements

  • erythrocytes (RBCs), leukocytes, platelets

  • creates via hematopoiesis

Erythrocytes

• RBCs

• Contain hemoglobin

  • oxygen-transporting protein

  • gives them red color

  • lack of leads to fatigue (little oxygen in tissue)

Leukocytes

• WBCs

  • disease defense

  • neutrophils

  • basophils

  • eosinophils (eos)

  • monocytes (mono)

  • lymphocytes (lymphs)

Platelets

• Thrombocytes

  • fragments of larger cells

  • blood clotting (hemostasis)

Anemia

• low erythrocyte count 

• low hemoglobin in RBC

  • decreases oxygen to tissues

Anticoagulant

prevents clot formation

Aplastic Anemia

• severe anemia

  • loss of functioning red bone marrow

  • low blood cell count

    • maybe need bone marrow transplant

Autotransfusion

• collecting and storing one’s own blood to replace blood lost in surgery

Blood Analyzer

• machine that automatically perfomrs multiple blood tests

  • CBC

  • erythrocyte sedimentation rate

  • blood-clotting tests

Blood Culture and Sensitivity (C&S)

• blood specimen is incubated to check for bacterial growth

  • identified if present

  • antibiotic treatment determined

Blood Transfusion

transfer of blood from one person to another

Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT)

• patient gets red bone marrow donation

  • own is destroyed by radiation on chemo

Coagulate

formation of blood clot

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

• comprehensive blood test that includes:

  • RBC

  • WBC

  • hemoglobin (Hgb)

  • hematocrit (Hct)

  • white blood cell differential

  • platelet count

Embolus

• “floating clot”

• piece of thrombus that breaks and floats through bloodstream until it lodges in a smaller blood vessel

  • blocks blood flow

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR, sed rate)

• measures rate at which RBCs settle out of blood to form sediment at bottom of test tube

  • indicates presence of inflammatory disease

Hematocrit (HCT, Hct, crit)

measures volume of RBCs in total volume of blood

Hematoma

• collection of blood under skin

• result of blood escaping into tissue from damaged blood vessel

  • “bruise”

Hemoglobin (Hgb, hb)

measures amount of hemoglobin present in given blood volume

Hemophilia

• inherited lack of vital clotting factor

• almost complete inability to stop bleeding

Iron-Deficiency Anemia

anemia when there’s not enough iron to build hemoglobin for RBCs

Leukemia

• cancer of leukocyte-forming red bone marrow

• large number of abnormal/ immature leukocytes in blood

Pernicious Anemia (PA)

• anemia when digestive system absorbs insufficient amount of B12

  • (vitamin B12 is necessary for erythrocyte production)

Phlebotomy

• removal of blood specimen from vein for lab tests

  • “venipuncture”

Platelet Count

determines number of platelets in given blood volume

Polycythemia Vera

• condition= too many erythrocytes

  • blood is too thick to easily flow

Prothrombin Time (PT, pro-time)

measures how long it takes for a clot to form after prothrombin (blood clotting protein) is activated

RBC Count

• determines number of RBCs in given blood volume

  • decrease= anemia

  • increase= polycythemia vera

Septicemia

• bacteria or their toxins in bloodstream

  • “blood poisoning”

Serum

blood that has had formed elements and clotting factors removed

Sickle Cell Anemia

• inherited disorder

• RBCs are curved (“sickled”)

• almost only in people of African descent

Thalassemia

• inherited disorder

• body can’t make hemoglobin

Thrombolytic Therapy

• administering medication to dissolve blood clot

• restore normal circulation

WBC Count

• number of leukocytes in given blood volume

  • increase= infection, leukemia

  • decrease= caused by disease, radiation or chemo

WBC Differential (diff)

determines number of each type of leukocyte

PMN, polys

polymorphonuclear neutrophils

segs

segmented neutrophils

Rh+, Rh-

• Rh- positive

• Rh- negative