Phlebotomy National Exam (NHA) – Study Guide, Revision Notes, and Practice Questions for
Certification Preparation
Characteristics imperative to a phlebotomist - ✔✔Dependability, honesty, integrity, empathy
and compassion, professional appearance, interpersonal skills
Circulatory system function - ✔✔deliver oxygen, nutrients, hormones, & enzymes to cells and
transport cellular waste (CO2) to organs where they can be expelled
The two circulations - ✔✔Pulmonary & Systemic
Pulmonary circulation - ✔✔carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs
and returns oxygenated blood from lungs to left atrium
Where does oxygenation take place in the lungs? - ✔✔alveoli
Systemic circulation - ✔✔carries oxygenated blood from left ventricle throughout the body
Upper chambers of the heart - ✔✔right and left atria
lower chambers of the heart - ✔✔right and left ventricle
tricuspid valve - ✔✔atrioventricular valve, situated between right atrium and right ventricle
**to remember this valve is on the right side of the heart-- people TRY to be RIGHT
pulmonic valve - ✔✔semi-lunar valve situated between the right ventricle and the pulmonary
artery
,Mitral valve (or bicuspid) - ✔✔atrioventricular valve located between the left atrium and left
ventricle
aortic valve - ✔✔semi lunar valve situated between the left ventricle and aorta
Flow of blood through the heart - ✔✔Superior and Inferior Vena Cavae< Right atrium<
tricuspid valve< right ventricle< pulmonic valve< pulmonary artery< lungs< pulmonary vein< left
atrium< mitral (bicuspid) valve< left ventricle< aorta< rest of body
Three layers of the heart - ✔✔Endocardium, myocardium, epicardium
Blood vessels - ✔✔arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, veins, superior & inferior vena
cavae
aorta, arteries, and arterioles carry_____ blood _______ the heart - ✔✔oxygenated & away
from
venules, veins, and superior and inferior vena cave carry _____ blood ________ the heart -
✔✔deoxygenated & back to
The average adult has ______ liters of blood - ✔✔5-6
Plasma comprises how much of circulating blood? - ✔✔55%
Plasma contains.... - ✔✔proteins, amino acids, gases, electrolytes, sugars, hormones, minerals,
vitamins, and water
What percent of plasma is water? - ✔✔92%
, Formed elements comprise what percent of circulating blood? - ✔✔45%
another name for red blood cells... - ✔✔Erythrocytes
What makes up the formed elements? - ✔✔Red blood cells, White blood cells, and platelets
Another name for white blood cells... - ✔✔leukocytes
another name for platelets... - ✔✔thrombocytes
What comprises 99% of the formed elements? - ✔✔red blood cells (erythrocytes)
Where do blood cells originate? - ✔✔stem cells in bone marrow
How many RBCs are in a microliter of blood? - ✔✔4.2 to 6.2 million
Normal life span of an RBS is... - ✔✔120 days
Function of a leukocyte - ✔✔provide the body protection against infection
Amount of WBCs per microliter of blood - ✔✔5,000-10,000
leukocytosis - ✔✔increase in WBCs
leukocytosis is seen when? - ✔✔cases of infection and leukemia
Certification Preparation
Characteristics imperative to a phlebotomist - ✔✔Dependability, honesty, integrity, empathy
and compassion, professional appearance, interpersonal skills
Circulatory system function - ✔✔deliver oxygen, nutrients, hormones, & enzymes to cells and
transport cellular waste (CO2) to organs where they can be expelled
The two circulations - ✔✔Pulmonary & Systemic
Pulmonary circulation - ✔✔carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs
and returns oxygenated blood from lungs to left atrium
Where does oxygenation take place in the lungs? - ✔✔alveoli
Systemic circulation - ✔✔carries oxygenated blood from left ventricle throughout the body
Upper chambers of the heart - ✔✔right and left atria
lower chambers of the heart - ✔✔right and left ventricle
tricuspid valve - ✔✔atrioventricular valve, situated between right atrium and right ventricle
**to remember this valve is on the right side of the heart-- people TRY to be RIGHT
pulmonic valve - ✔✔semi-lunar valve situated between the right ventricle and the pulmonary
artery
,Mitral valve (or bicuspid) - ✔✔atrioventricular valve located between the left atrium and left
ventricle
aortic valve - ✔✔semi lunar valve situated between the left ventricle and aorta
Flow of blood through the heart - ✔✔Superior and Inferior Vena Cavae< Right atrium<
tricuspid valve< right ventricle< pulmonic valve< pulmonary artery< lungs< pulmonary vein< left
atrium< mitral (bicuspid) valve< left ventricle< aorta< rest of body
Three layers of the heart - ✔✔Endocardium, myocardium, epicardium
Blood vessels - ✔✔arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, veins, superior & inferior vena
cavae
aorta, arteries, and arterioles carry_____ blood _______ the heart - ✔✔oxygenated & away
from
venules, veins, and superior and inferior vena cave carry _____ blood ________ the heart -
✔✔deoxygenated & back to
The average adult has ______ liters of blood - ✔✔5-6
Plasma comprises how much of circulating blood? - ✔✔55%
Plasma contains.... - ✔✔proteins, amino acids, gases, electrolytes, sugars, hormones, minerals,
vitamins, and water
What percent of plasma is water? - ✔✔92%
, Formed elements comprise what percent of circulating blood? - ✔✔45%
another name for red blood cells... - ✔✔Erythrocytes
What makes up the formed elements? - ✔✔Red blood cells, White blood cells, and platelets
Another name for white blood cells... - ✔✔leukocytes
another name for platelets... - ✔✔thrombocytes
What comprises 99% of the formed elements? - ✔✔red blood cells (erythrocytes)
Where do blood cells originate? - ✔✔stem cells in bone marrow
How many RBCs are in a microliter of blood? - ✔✔4.2 to 6.2 million
Normal life span of an RBS is... - ✔✔120 days
Function of a leukocyte - ✔✔provide the body protection against infection
Amount of WBCs per microliter of blood - ✔✔5,000-10,000
leukocytosis - ✔✔increase in WBCs
leukocytosis is seen when? - ✔✔cases of infection and leukemia
