Hematology Lecture: Blood Disorders and Leukemia

Practice vocabulary flashcards defining key hematology concepts, red blood cell disorders, anemias, sickle cell crisis, white blood cell alterations, and leukemias covered in the lecture.

Erythropoiesis

The process of producing red blood cells within the bone marrow.

Erythropoietin

A hormone released by the kidneys in response to hypoxia (low oxygen) that signals the bone marrow to produce red blood cells.

Anemia

A condition in which the number of red blood cells or the hemoglobin concentration within them is below normal, leading to reduced oxygen delivery to body tissues.

Hypoproliferative Anemia

A category of anemia caused by the underproduction of red blood cells by the bone marrow.

Iron Deficiency Anemia

A condition where a lack of iron raw material leads to decreased hemoglobin production and inadequate oxygen transfer to the tissues.

Koilonchia

Weak, spoon-shaped nails that present as a classic hallmark sign in patients with iron deficiency anemia.

Pica

A condition where individuals have cravings to consume non-edible items such as dirt, sand, or ice, often seen with iron deficiency and pregnancy.

Bone Marrow Aspiration (BMA)

An invasive sterile diagnostic procedure considered the definitive gold standard test for hematologic disorders, typically sampled from the iliac crest or sternum.

Megaloblastic Anemia

An anemia characterized by the presence of large, immature, and dysfunctional red blood cells, caused primarily by vitamin B12 or folate deficiency.

Aplastic Anemia

A condition resulting from bone marrow shutdown or damage where the marrow fails to produce red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Thrombocytopenia

A deficiency of platelets in the blood that significantly increases the patient's risk of bleeding.

Hemolytic Anemia

Anemia caused by the premature breakdown or destruction of red blood cells.

Sickle Cell Anemia

An inherited autosomal recessive blood disorder where abnormal hemoglobin S causes red blood cells to deform into a sickle shape, leading to vascular blockages and tissue hypoxia.

Sickle Cell Crisis

A life-threatening, sudden, and severely painful medical emergency caused by sickled red blood cells clustering together and obstructing blood flow in tiny blood vessels.

Hydroxyurea

A regular maintenance medication that stimulates the production of fetal hemoglobin, thereby reducing the frequency of sickle cell crises.

Leukopenia

A state of having an abnormally low white blood cell count, putting the patient at an elevated risk of infection and requiring neutropenic precautions.

Leukocytosis

An abnormally high number of white blood cells in the blood, indicating active infection, inflammation, or malignancy such as leukemia.

Leukemia

A cancer of the bone marrow characterized by the rapid and uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal, immature white blood cells.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)

A rapid and aggressive form of leukemia affecting lymphocytes (B cells and T cells), which is the most common form of leukemia seen in children.

Flow Cytometry

A specialized diagnostic laboratory test that identifies cell markers to determine the exact cellular subtype of leukemia (such as lymphoid vs. myeloid).