GCU Bio 322 Pathophysiology
Questions And Answers
Polycythemia
✓~ Excess RBC in circulation
Blood is more viscous, lead to decrease in flow of blood that can deprive organs
of oxygen
Anemia
✓~ Decreased RBC in circulation
Causes: Impaired erythrocyte production, blood loss, increased erythrocyte
destruction
Signs & Symptoms: Fatigue, Weakness, Dizziness, Pallor (pale) skin and MM,
smooth tongue (beefy red tongue due to Vitamin B12 deficiency)
Microcytic anemia
, ✓~ Small erythrocytes
Lack of maturation time or low levels of iron
Macrocytic anemia (megaloblastic anemia)
✓~ Cells are larger than normal
Lack certain nutrients necessary for successful DNA replication
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)
✓~ 27-34 pg
Determined by dividing total mass of hemoglobin by number of red blood cells
MCHM (concentration) determines hemoglobin concentration
Hypochromic: lower amount of hemoglobin appear washed out and pale
Normochromic: normal cell color
Normochromic anemia: decrease in the number of cells through blood loss or
premature destruction of erythrocytes
Hyperchromic
Macrocytic Anemia
, ✓~ Lack of Vitamin B12 and folic acid (a B vitamin necessary for cell maturation
and DNA repair)
Thalassema
✓~ Group of genetic disorders that affect hemoglobin
Risk factors for anemia
✓~ Nutritional deficits (iron and Vitamin B), intestinal disorders preventing the
ability to absorb nutrients, chronic health problems, pregnant, gastrointestinal
bleeding, genetic risks (sickle cell disease)
Signs and Symptoms of Anemia
✓~ Increase in heart rate and cardiac output
Shunting of blood flow to vital organs such as heart and brain
Pulmonary function increase through increased respiratory rate
Pallor of the skin and mucous membrane
Cyanosis is not present
Headache, dizziness, light-headedness, fatigue
, Tachycardia and ejection murmur
iron deficiency anemia
✓~ Reduction in dietary iron or loss of iron
Malabsorption of iron through GI tract or reduced dietary intake
Occurs through hemorrhage, menstrual blood loss in females, and
gastrointestinal bleeding in male and female
Gradual reduction in hematocrit and hemoglobin
Cells become microcytic and hypochromic
Microcytic hypochromic anemia (decrease MCV or mean corpuscular volume,
decrease MCH or mean corpuscular hemoglobin, decrease MCHC)
Decreased mean corpuscular volume - microcytic
Decreased mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration- hypochromic
Fatigue, tachycardia, palpitations, tachypnea, pallor, koilonychia, angular
cheilitis, tongue is pale smooth and shiny, pica disease
CBC shows decrease in red blood cells, Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC
Cobalamin deficiency (Vitamin B12)
Questions And Answers
Polycythemia
✓~ Excess RBC in circulation
Blood is more viscous, lead to decrease in flow of blood that can deprive organs
of oxygen
Anemia
✓~ Decreased RBC in circulation
Causes: Impaired erythrocyte production, blood loss, increased erythrocyte
destruction
Signs & Symptoms: Fatigue, Weakness, Dizziness, Pallor (pale) skin and MM,
smooth tongue (beefy red tongue due to Vitamin B12 deficiency)
Microcytic anemia
, ✓~ Small erythrocytes
Lack of maturation time or low levels of iron
Macrocytic anemia (megaloblastic anemia)
✓~ Cells are larger than normal
Lack certain nutrients necessary for successful DNA replication
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)
✓~ 27-34 pg
Determined by dividing total mass of hemoglobin by number of red blood cells
MCHM (concentration) determines hemoglobin concentration
Hypochromic: lower amount of hemoglobin appear washed out and pale
Normochromic: normal cell color
Normochromic anemia: decrease in the number of cells through blood loss or
premature destruction of erythrocytes
Hyperchromic
Macrocytic Anemia
, ✓~ Lack of Vitamin B12 and folic acid (a B vitamin necessary for cell maturation
and DNA repair)
Thalassema
✓~ Group of genetic disorders that affect hemoglobin
Risk factors for anemia
✓~ Nutritional deficits (iron and Vitamin B), intestinal disorders preventing the
ability to absorb nutrients, chronic health problems, pregnant, gastrointestinal
bleeding, genetic risks (sickle cell disease)
Signs and Symptoms of Anemia
✓~ Increase in heart rate and cardiac output
Shunting of blood flow to vital organs such as heart and brain
Pulmonary function increase through increased respiratory rate
Pallor of the skin and mucous membrane
Cyanosis is not present
Headache, dizziness, light-headedness, fatigue
, Tachycardia and ejection murmur
iron deficiency anemia
✓~ Reduction in dietary iron or loss of iron
Malabsorption of iron through GI tract or reduced dietary intake
Occurs through hemorrhage, menstrual blood loss in females, and
gastrointestinal bleeding in male and female
Gradual reduction in hematocrit and hemoglobin
Cells become microcytic and hypochromic
Microcytic hypochromic anemia (decrease MCV or mean corpuscular volume,
decrease MCH or mean corpuscular hemoglobin, decrease MCHC)
Decreased mean corpuscular volume - microcytic
Decreased mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration- hypochromic
Fatigue, tachycardia, palpitations, tachypnea, pallor, koilonychia, angular
cheilitis, tongue is pale smooth and shiny, pica disease
CBC shows decrease in red blood cells, Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC
Cobalamin deficiency (Vitamin B12)
