Basic concepts
of
haematology
Adapted from: Essential Haematology, 6th Edn A.V. Hoffbrand & P.A.H. Moss.
,TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Haematology basics……………………………………………………………………. Page 3
Haemopoiesis………………………………………………………………………….... Page 3
Erythropoiesis……………..……………………………………………………….……. Page 6
Erythrocytes………………………………………………………………………………Page 11
Plasma…………………………………………………………………….………………Page 20
Haematological investigations………………………………………………………….Page 22
Full blood count…………………………………………………………………………..Page 24
Peripheral smear…………………………………………………………………………Page 35
Reticulocytes…………………………………………………………….………………..Page 36
, Haematology
Session 3 basics:
Introduction to Blood and Red Blood Cells
Part 1: Haemopoiesis
Part 2: Erythropoiesis
Part 3: Erythrocytes
Part 4: Plasma
• Normal circulating blood volume:
o 5.5 L in a 70 kg man (± 71–75
ml/kg body mass)
o Average woman: blood volume
of ± 4.5 L
o Baby: 300 ml (± 80 mL/kg)
• Blood consists of:
o Plasma
o White blood cells (leukocytes)
o Red blood cells (erythrocytes)
o Platelets (thrombocytes)
• In men the cells account for
approximately 46% of the blood
volume and plasma 54%
• In women ratio is 42:58
• Too little plasma: dehydration
• Buffy coat usually very thin – if thick may indicate acute
leukemia
• Can have too little/too much RBC’s (abnormalities)
Part 1: Haemopoiesis
• Give rise to all blood cells
• Self-renewing
• ‘Nested’ in the bone marrow stroma:
o Fat cells
o Endothelial cells
o Connective tissue
o Produces growth factors that are necessary for stem cell survival
, • See a lot of myeloblasts: acute leukemia
• Platelets: buds of from cytoplasm of precursor cells
• See a lot of neutrophil precursors: left shift
Sites of Haemopoiesis (NB)
• Fetus:
o 0-2 months: yolk sac
o 2-7 months: liver, spleen
o 5-9 months: bone marrow
• Infants:
o Bone marrow (all bones)
• Children:
o Anterior tibia
• Adults:
o Vertebrae, ribs, sternum
o Skull
o Sacrum and pelvis
o Proximal ends of femur
of
haematology
Adapted from: Essential Haematology, 6th Edn A.V. Hoffbrand & P.A.H. Moss.
,TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Haematology basics……………………………………………………………………. Page 3
Haemopoiesis………………………………………………………………………….... Page 3
Erythropoiesis……………..……………………………………………………….……. Page 6
Erythrocytes………………………………………………………………………………Page 11
Plasma…………………………………………………………………….………………Page 20
Haematological investigations………………………………………………………….Page 22
Full blood count…………………………………………………………………………..Page 24
Peripheral smear…………………………………………………………………………Page 35
Reticulocytes…………………………………………………………….………………..Page 36
, Haematology
Session 3 basics:
Introduction to Blood and Red Blood Cells
Part 1: Haemopoiesis
Part 2: Erythropoiesis
Part 3: Erythrocytes
Part 4: Plasma
• Normal circulating blood volume:
o 5.5 L in a 70 kg man (± 71–75
ml/kg body mass)
o Average woman: blood volume
of ± 4.5 L
o Baby: 300 ml (± 80 mL/kg)
• Blood consists of:
o Plasma
o White blood cells (leukocytes)
o Red blood cells (erythrocytes)
o Platelets (thrombocytes)
• In men the cells account for
approximately 46% of the blood
volume and plasma 54%
• In women ratio is 42:58
• Too little plasma: dehydration
• Buffy coat usually very thin – if thick may indicate acute
leukemia
• Can have too little/too much RBC’s (abnormalities)
Part 1: Haemopoiesis
• Give rise to all blood cells
• Self-renewing
• ‘Nested’ in the bone marrow stroma:
o Fat cells
o Endothelial cells
o Connective tissue
o Produces growth factors that are necessary for stem cell survival
, • See a lot of myeloblasts: acute leukemia
• Platelets: buds of from cytoplasm of precursor cells
• See a lot of neutrophil precursors: left shift
Sites of Haemopoiesis (NB)
• Fetus:
o 0-2 months: yolk sac
o 2-7 months: liver, spleen
o 5-9 months: bone marrow
• Infants:
o Bone marrow (all bones)
• Children:
o Anterior tibia
• Adults:
o Vertebrae, ribs, sternum
o Skull
o Sacrum and pelvis
o Proximal ends of femur
