Hematology Basics
Known as the "mother cells," these entities are the original source of all blood cells and begin their life inside the bone marrow.
What are Pluripotent stem cells?
This clinical descriptor represents the exact percentage of total blood volume that is taken up by red blood cells.
What is Hematocrit (Hct)?
Statistically, this specific condition is the most common cause of anemia across all age groups.
What is Iron Deficiency Anemia?
Megaloblastic / macrocytic anemias are characterized by abnormally large RBCs with decreased lifespans, most often caused by a deficiency in Vitamin B12 or this other B-complex vitamin.
What is Folic Acid (Folate)?
Polycythemia is defined as an abnormally high total red cell mass, clinically marked by a Hematocrit value exceeding this percentage.
What is >50%?
Released from the bone marrow into the bloodstream, this specific term describes an immature red blood cell.
What is a Reticulocyte?
According to the clinical "Rule of 3's," if a patient's Hemoglobin level is 12 g/dL, their estimated Hematocrit should be approximately this percentage.
What is 36%? (12 x 3 = 36)
In adults, iron deficiency anemia is most commonly caused by this underlying physical process, such as menorrhagia or occult GI loss.
What is Chronic blood loss?
To absorb Vitamin B12 in the terminal ileum, it must first bind to this specific mucoprotein secreted by the parietal cells of the gastric mucosa.
What is Intrinsic Factor?
While primary polycythemia (polycythemia vera) is a proliferative marrow disorder, secondary polycythemia arises as a compensatory response to this chronic physiological state (commonly seen in heavy smokers or at high altitudes) .
What is Chronic Hypoxia?
Mature red blood cells possess a unique lifespan of approximately this many days before they break down.
What is 120 days?
This lab index relates directly to red blood cell size, allowing clinicians to classify cells as microcytic, normocytic, or macrocytic.
What is Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)?
Because it is directly proportional to total body iron stores, this clinical laboratory test serves as an excellent diagnostic marker for iron deficiency.
What is Serum Ferritin?
This specific type of macrocytic anemia is caused by an autoimmune disease that targets and destroys the stomach's parietal cells, wiping out intrinsic factor.
What is Pernicious Anemia?
The primary complications of polycythemia—such as hypertension, venous stasis, and thromboembolism—all stem from an increase in blood volume and this physical blood property.
What is Viscosity (blood thickness)?
These two specific organs are responsible for phagocytizing (engulfing and destroying) old, disintegrated red blood cells.
What are the Liver and Spleen?
This laboratory index measures the standard deviation or uniformity of RBC size, and it uniquely increases in Iron Deficiency Anemia while remaining normal in Thalassemia.
What is Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)?
Beyond standard symptoms of hypoxemia, iron deficiency can cause these three distinct, unusual manifestations: spoon-shaped nails, a smooth/red tongue (glossitis), and this craving for non-nutritive substances.
What is Pica? (Nails = brittle/spoon-shaped, tongue = glossitis)
Unlike Folic Acid deficiency, a severe Vitamin B12 deficiency will uniquely manifest with these types of progressive clinical symptoms, including paresthesias, ataxia, and loss of vibratory sense .
What are Neurologic symptoms?
To treat primary polycythemia, the therapeutic focus is to reduce blood viscosity, which is most commonly achieved through this periodic medical procedure.
What is Periodic Phlebotomy? (blood removal)
When an old RBC breaks down, the "rest of the molecule" (excluding globulin and iron) is converted into this substance and excreted in the stool or urine.
What is Bilirubin?
Considered an excellent indicator of bone marrow function, this laboratory assessment is the single most reliable measure of active RBC production.
What is the Reticulocyte Count?
When administering an intramuscular (IM) iron injection, the nurse must absolutely use this specific technique deep in the muscle to prevent medication leakage and skin staining.
What is the Z-track technique?
Because dietary Vitamin B12 is strictly found in foods like meat, eggs, milk, and cheese, individuals maintaining this strict dietary lifestyle are at high risk for deficiency.
What is a Vegetarian (or Vegan) diet?
In an Acute blood loss scenario (such as trauma or surgery), the patient's immediate clinical threat is volume depletion and shock rather than hypoxemia, and their red blood cells will initially retain these normal morphologic descriptors.
What are Normocytic and Normochromic?