Hematology Trivia Quiz

Answer: 7 g/dL

A level of 7 g/dL means the person has severe anemia and requires a blood transfusion. 16-18 g/dL is the range for a male. At 10 g/dL, the person has mild anemia.

Answer: hypersegmented neutrophils and macroovalocytes

Larger red blood cells (macroovalocytes) and hypersegmented neutrophils are characteristic of megaloblastic anemia. Microcytes are typical of iron deficiency anemia. Hypolobulated neutrophils (e.g., Pinz-nez) are often seen in inherited conditions.

Answer: Philadelphia chromosome

The Philadelphia chromosome results from a balanced translocation between chromosomes 9 and 21. The altered chromosome 21 with the bcr-abl fusion gene is strongly associated with CML. The other conditions are due to extra chromosomes and are not related to CML.

Answer: alpha 2, beta 2

Each hemoglobin consists of four globin chains. The most common adult hemoglobin, Hgb A1 consists of 2 alpha and 2 beta chains. Alpha2 delta 2 is the composition of Hgb A2; alpha2 gamma 2 makes up fetal hemoglobin; beta 4 is the composition of an abnormal hemoglobin in alpha thalassemias.

Answer: beta chain

In thalassemias, one of the adult hemoglobin chains is not produced or produced in lesser amounts. In beta thalassemias, the beta chain is not made. As a result, Hb A1 (alpha 2 beta 2), the major adult hemoglobin is not made. This leads to major organ damage, growth retardation and anemia. The zeta chain is only made in embryonic life.

Answer: 30,000/microliter

Platelets or thromobocytes are tiny "cells" which initiate the blood clotting process in response to cuts or tissue trauma. The normal level of platelets is 150-400,000 per microliter. With lower levels of platelets petechiae or hemorrhages under the skin are seen. Very low platelet levels cause spontaneous internal hemorrhages including fatal brain hemorrhages.

Answer: Vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 and/or folate deficiency causes megaloblastic anemia. This results from the precursor cells not being able to make DNA properly. The red cell precursors will have nuclear-cytoplasmic asynchronu=y where the cytoplasm matures faster than the nucleus.

The resulting cells are larger than normal (megaloblastic). Iron (Fe) deficiency causes a microcytic anemia where the red blood cells are too small. Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy while vitamin A deficiency causes skin problems and night blindness.

Answer: Bone marrow and thymus

The bone marrow is where B lymphocytes mature and the thymus is where T lymphocytes mature. The spleen is a secondary lymphoid organ and is an organ where blood cells are stored. The liver is an important organ with many functions but lymphocytes do not mature here.

Answer: glutamic acid to valine

The change of a polar amino acid (glutamic acid) to a non-polar amino acid (valine) exposes a hydrophobic pocket in the hemoglobin protein. Because of this, the Hemoglobin molecules form long fibers and distort the red blood cell shape under low Oxygen concentrations.

A person must inherit 2 of the defective alleles from each parent to have sickle cell anemia. The DNA of a gene is transcribed to mRNA which is then translated to a protein. In this case, the defect in the gene is manifested by an abnormal protein.

Answer: Acute myeloid leukemia

Auer rods are formed from the nonspecific granules in the cytoplasm of myeloid precursors (the white blood cells that are not lymphoid) fusing together. They are highly specific for myeloid leukemias. Megakaryocytic leukemia is from neoplasia of a megakaryoblast (a platelet precursor).