Hematology and Blood Components Practice Flashcards

These vocabulary flashcards cover the characteristics, origin, regulation, and disorders of red and white blood cells, as well as iron metabolism and hemoglobin synthesis based on the lecture material.

Hematocrit

The cellular component of the blood, making up around $40-45\%$, which includes Red Blood Cells and leukocytes.

Carbonic anhydrase

An enzyme in RBCs that promotes the reaction of $CO_2$ with water to form carbonic acid/bicarbonate ion for gas transport.

Red Blood Cells (RBC) Dimensions

Biconcave shaped cells approximately $7.8\,\mu m$ in diameter and $2.5\,\mu m$ thick.

Erythropoietin (EPO)

A circulating $34\text{ kDa}$ hormone mainly produced by the kidneys that acts on $CFU-E$ receptors to drive RBC differentiation in response to low oxygen.

Heme Synthesis Equation

$2\text{ Succinyl} + 2\text{ Glycin} \rightarrow \delta\text{-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)}$ then $2\text{ ALA} \rightarrow 1\text{ Porpobilinogen (PBG)}$.

Hemoglobin Structure

An iron-containing globular metalloprotein tetramer formed by $2 \alpha$-chains and $2 \beta$-chains.

RBC Lifespan

The average period an RBC circulates in a healthy person, which is about $120\text{ days}$.

Bilirubin

The substance formed from the secretion of porphyrin after senescent RBCs are captured and digested by macrophages.

Ferritin

The form in which $15-30\%$ of the body's iron is stored, primarily in the liver.

Transferrin

The circulating form of iron in the plasma, representing about $1\%$ of the body's total iron.

Aplastic anemia

A condition caused by defective or absent production of erythrocytes from the bone marrow due to factors like high-dose radiation, pesticides, or autoimmune diseases like Lupus.

Intrinsic Factor

A substance secreted by gastric parietal cells required for the absorption of Vitamin B12; its loss leads to Pernicious anemia.

Sickle Cell Anemia Mutation

A single amino acid substitution ($Glu/Val$) in the $\beta$-globin subunit ($\beta S$ allele) that causes hemoglobin polymerization under low oxygen.

Polycythemia Vera

A condition caused by a $Janus kinase-2 (JAK2)$ mutation leading to neoplastic proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells and increased blood viscosity.

Granulocytes

A category of white blood cells including Neutrophils, Basophils, and Eosinophils, with a circulation life span of $4-8\text{ hrs}$.

Mast cells

Basophils that have become resident in a tissue, often located at the end of capillary beds.

Major Basic Protein

A larvicidal polypeptide contained in the acid-containing granules of Eosinophils used to attack multicellular parasites.

Neutrophil Extracellular Trap (NET)

A structure projected by neutrophils composed of DNA, histones, and antimicrobial proteins to trap pathogens.

Chemotaxis

The process by which leukocytes follow chemical signal gradients such as $PAMPs$ or $DAMPs$ to reach an infection site.

Antigen presenting Cell (APC)

Phagocytic cells, such as macrophages, that process engulfed pathogens to create protein samples that activate the adaptive immune system.

Leukopenia

A disorder characterized by very few white blood cells, leaving the body unprotected against bacteria and other agents.

Leukemia

A cancerous mutation of myelogenous or lymphogenous cells resulting in an increased number of abnormal white blood cells.