B1 - Introduction to blood

Question 1

EPO

Answer 1

erythropoietin - drives red blood cell production

- Used in blood doping to increase ability for oxygen circulation 
- Made in the kidney - responsible for increasing EPO production
- Reduced in renal failure - patients can't make EPO, will be anaemic, either a blood transfusion or EPO infection is required.
- Haemorrhage results in increased EPO

Question 2

G-CSF

Answer 2

granulocyte colony stimulating factor - drives granulocyte production
especially during infection

Question 3

GM-CSF and M-CSF

Answer 3

drives monocyte production

Question 4

IL-5

Answer 4

drives eosinophil production

Question 5

Anisocytosis

Answer 5

variation in red cell size

Question 6

poikilocytosis

Answer 6

variation in red cell shape

Question 7

hypochromasia

Answer 7

pale RBCs

Question 8

polychromasia

Answer 8

many colours - indicates a young red blood cell

Question 9

microcytic

Answer 9

small red cell

Question 10

macrocytic

Answer 10

large red cell

Question 11

schistocytes

Answer 11

fragmented red cell

Question 12

spherocytes

Answer 12

spherical red cell

Question 13

acanthocytes

Answer 13

speculated membrane (sharp and pointy)

Question 14

petechiae

Answer 14

• Thrombocytopenia: low platelet count can cause ‘petechiae’
  ○ red spots on the skin - petechiae, pink spots on the leg
  ○ Only happens when the platelet count is significantly lower than normal (<10 x 10^9/L)