Pathophysiology Chapter 31 Alterations of Hematologic Function in Children

Pathophysiology Chapter 31 Alterations of Hematologic Function in Children




1. What is the cause of polycythemia in the fetus?

a. Fetal hemoglobin has a greater affinity for oxygen as a result of diphosphoglycerate

(DPG).

b. The fetus has a different hemoglobin structure of two ?- and two ?-chains rather

than two ?-and two ?-chains.

c. Increased erythropoiesis occurs in response to the hypoxic intrauterine

environment.

d. The lungs of the fetus are undeveloped and unable to diffuse oxygen adequately to

the pulmonary capillaries.

2. Why does fetal hemoglobin have a greater affinity for oxygen than adult

hemoglobin?

a. The fetus does not have its own oxygen supply and must rely on oxygen from the

maternal vascular system.

b. The fetus has two ?-chains on the hemoglobin, rather than two ?-chains as in the

adult.

c. Fetal hemoglobin interacts less readily with diphosphoglycerate (DPG), which

inhibits hemoglobin-oxygen binding.

d. Fetal hemoglobin production occurs in the vessels and liver rather than in the bone

marrow as in the adult.

3. Which blood cell type is elevated at birth and through the preschool years, but

decreases to adult levels afterward?

a. Monocytes