Questions and Answers
Who described worms in the blood as bacteria?
Athanasius Kircher
What principle did Joseph and Wallace Coulter discover?
Coulter principle
What is the primary role of Red Blood Cells?
Anemia is characterized by a decreased RBC and ______ concentration.
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Granulocytes are dedicated to protecting their host from infection and injury.
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What are the three numerical results used to compute the RBC indices?
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The diluent used for White Blood Cell counts is ______.
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What does MCV stand for?
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Microcytic anemia is associated with increased MCV.
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What is the name of the reagent replaced due to toxicity risks?
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Study Notes
History of Hematology
- Athanasius Kircher noted microscopic life forms in blood, mistaking them for bacteria.
- Anton van Leeuwenhoek provided the first detailed observation of red blood cells (RBCs).
- Giulio Bizzozero identified platelets as small cell fragments.
- James Homer Wright developed Wright stain for blood cell differentiation.
- Joseph and Wallace Coulter pioneered the use of electronic counters for complete blood counts (CBC) based on electrical impedance.
Red Blood Cells
- Red blood cells function primarily to transport oxygen throughout the body.
- They are anucleate, biconcave, and typically have a diameter of 7 to 8 micrometers (μm).
- RBCs appear salmon-pink under a microscope due to hemoglobin content.
Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, and RBC Indices
- Hemoglobin levels decrease when RBC function is impaired.
- Hemoglobin measurement relies on spectrophotometry, initially built on the use of potassium cyanide, later replaced with safer sodium lauryl sulfate.
- Hematocrit tests utilize capillary tubes, where RBCs settle at the bottom after centrifugation, reflecting the volume ratio of packed RBCs to total blood volume.
- Three key results (RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit) are needed to calculate RBC indices.
Anemia and Polycythemia
- Anemia is characterized by reduced RBC count and hemoglobin concentration.
- Polycythemia indicates an elevated RBC count.
- Mean cell volume (MCV) indicates average RBC size; expressed in femtoliters (fL).
- Microcytic anemia is associated with decreased MCV, while macrocytic anemia corresponds to increased MCV.
RBC Indices
- Mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is a critical indicator of anemia and is expressed in grams per deciliter (g/dL).
- Low MCHC signifies less hemoglobin per RBC, suggesting anemia.
- Mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) measures the amount of hemoglobin per cell, expressed in picograms (pg).
White Blood Cells
- White blood cells (WBCs) are essential for immune response and include neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, and basophils.
- WBC count can be assessed using a dilution of 1:20 with acetic acid as a diluent.
- Leukopenia indicates a low WBC count, while leukocytosis denotes an elevated WBC count.
Granulocytes
- Granulocytes play a vital role in the body's defense mechanisms against infection and injury.
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Description
Explore the basics of hematology in this introductory quiz. Learn about historical figures like Athanasius Kircher and Anton van Leeuwenhoek, as well as essential laboratory techniques and tools such as the hemacytometer and Thoma pipette. Test your understanding of blood analysis and its components.
