Hematology Normal Values and Foundational Facts

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering normal adult blood values, red cell indices, RBC physiology, and haemoglobin types based on the lecture notes.

Blood as a proportion of body mass

$$\sim 7-8\%$$

Estimated adult blood volume

$$\sim 70\,mL/kg$$

Buffy coat contents

White blood cells and platelets

Plasma water content

$$\sim 90-92\%$$

Normal arterial blood pH

$7.35-7.45$ ($\text{central reference } \sim 7.40$)

Blood temperature

$\sim 38$ degrees C

Normal arterial oxygen saturation ($SaO_2$)

Usually $95-100\%$

Plasma versus serum

Plasma contains fibrinogen; serum largely does not

Haemoglobin - adult male

$$130-175\,g/L$$

Haemoglobin - adult female

$$115-155\,g/L$$

Haematocrit - adult male

$$0.40-0.52\,L/L$$

Haematocrit - adult female

$$0.36-0.46\,L/L$$

Total WBC count

$$4.0-11.0 \times 10^9/L$$

Platelet count

$150-400 \times 10^9/L$ ($\text{alternative upper limit } 450 \times 10^9/L$)

Anaemia threshold - adult male

$$Hb < 130\,g/L$$

Anaemia threshold - adult non-pregnant female

$$Hb < 120\,g/L$$

MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume)

$$80-100\,fL$$

Microcytosis

$$MCV < 80\,fL$$

Macrocytosis

$$MCV > 100\,fL$$

MCH (Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin)

$$27-33\,pg$$

MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration)

$$320-360\,g/L$$

RDW-CV

$$\sim 11.5-14.5\%$$

Anisocytosis

Variation in RBC size

Hypochromia

Reduced haemoglobinisation of RBCs

Polychromasia

Bluish young RBCs, often reflecting reticulocytosis

Normal RBC shape

Biconcave disc

RBC diameter

$$\sim 7-8\,\mu m$$

Normal RBC lifespan

$$\sim 120\text{ days}$$

Daily RBC turnover

$\sim 1\%$ of circulating RBCs

Mature RBC organelles

Nucleus, mitochondria, and ribosomes are all absent

Primary RBC energy pathway

Anaerobic glycolysis

Main adult source of erythropoietin

Kidney

Main stimulus for erythropoietin release

Tissue hypoxia

Functional haem iron state

$Fe^{2+}$ (ferrous)

Methemoglobin iron state

$Fe^{3+}$ (ferric)

HbA structure

$$\alpha_2 \beta_2$$

HbA2 structure

$$\alpha_2 \delta_2$$

HbF structure

$$\alpha_2 \gamma_2$$

Oxygen-binding capacity of 1 g Hb

$$\sim 1.34\,mL\,O_2$$

Rule of three

$Hb\,(\text{g/dL}) \times 3$ approximately equals $Hct\,(\%)$

Reticulocyte definition

Young, non-nucleated RBC containing residual ribosomal RNA

Manual supravital stains for reticulocytes

New methylene blue or brilliant cresyl blue

RPI suggesting regenerative response

$$> 2-3$$

FBC / CBC

Full blood count / Complete blood count

PCV

Packed cell volume (Haematocrit)