QCM : Blood Disorders and Hematology Essentials — 9 questions

Explication

Plasma is the liquid component of blood that makes up about 55% of total blood volume. It is mainly water, containing electrolytes, proteins, hormones, and waste products, and serves as the medium in which blood cells are suspended and transported throughout the body.

Explication

Red blood cells typically live about 120 days, which is important for understanding conditions like hemolytic anemia where RBC destruction exceeds production.

Explication

The most common cause of microcytic anemia is iron deficiency anemia, which results in smaller-than-normal red blood cells due to insufficient hemoglobin synthesis. Vitamin B12 deficiency typically causes macrocytic anemia, hemolytic anemia involves premature destruction of RBCs without necessarily affecting cell size, and aplastic anemia is a pancytopenia with normocytic or macrocytic cells, but not microcytic.

Explication

Hemoglobin within red blood cells binds and transports oxygen; plasma proteins do not have this function, nor do leukocytes or platelets.

Explication

Classifying leukemia into its variants (such as ALL, AML, CML, CLL) helps clinicians determine the specific diagnosis, which directly influences the choice of treatment and prognosis. This classification is essential for guiding diagnosis and treatment strategies, making it the primary purpose of differentiating leukemia variants.

Explication

Microcytic anemia is characterized by small RBCs and is often caused by iron deficiency or thalassemia, whereas macrocytic anemia involves enlarged cells.

Explication

Platelets are small cell fragments crucial for clotting and have a lifespan of around a week, enabling rapid response to blood vessel injury.

Explication

Macrocytic anemia involves large RBCs and is commonly caused by B12 or folate deficiency, affecting DNA synthesis during erythropoiesis.

Explication

Plasma is the liquid component that carries nutrients, hormones, and waste, supporting overall blood function and volume regulation.