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Questions and Answers
What happens to erythropoiesis if there is a deficiency in Vitamin B12 or Folic acid?
What happens to erythropoiesis if there is a deficiency in Vitamin B12 or Folic acid?
- Erythroblastic cells grow but cannot divide rapidly. (correct)
- Erythropoiesis continues without any issues.
- Mature RBCs are produced more rapidly.
- Cytoplasmic maturation is significantly delayed.
What are megaloblasts?
What are megaloblasts?
- Erythroblasts that grow larger than normal and cannot divide. (correct)
- Normal-sized erythrocytes.
- Immature red blood cells that develop without any nutrient deficiencies.
- Defective white blood cells caused by anemia.
Which of the following is a consequence of macrocyte production due to B12 or folic acid deficiency?
Which of the following is a consequence of macrocyte production due to B12 or folic acid deficiency?
- Increased number of normal-sized RBCs.
- Abnormal shape and fragility leading to decreased RBC count. (correct)
- Rapid cycle of effective erythropoiesis.
- Normal RBCs are produced with enhanced functionality.
What is megaloblastic anemia characterized by?
What is megaloblastic anemia characterized by?
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Why does cytoplasmic maturation remain relatively unimpeded despite B12 or folic acid deficiency?
Why does cytoplasmic maturation remain relatively unimpeded despite B12 or folic acid deficiency?
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Study Notes
Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid Deficiency
- Vitamin B12 and folic acid are essential for DNA synthesis, crucial for the development and maturation of red blood cells (RBCs).
- Deficiency in either Vitamin B12 or folic acid slows down DNA synthesis and nuclear maturation while cytoplasmic maturation (mostly reliant on RNA function) proceeds relatively unaffected.
- This disrupts the normal process of red blood cell production (erythropoiesis), leading to the creation of large, immature red blood cell precursors in the bone marrow, called megaloblasts.
- These megaloblasts grow but cannot divide quickly, eventually forming abnormally large red blood cells known as macrocytes.
- Macrocytes are irregular in shape and are fragile, making them prone to breakdown, resulting in a decreased number of red blood cells in the blood.
- The deficiency-induced reduction in red blood cell count leads to a condition known as megaloblastic anemia, also referred to as maturation failure anemia.
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