1|Page
UAMS HEMATOLOGY (ACTUAL 2025/2026) EXAM 1
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
What is hematology? - (answers)The study of blood cell formation, destruction,
maturation, and number of blood cells which can vary with disease or infection.
What is the most common specimen of hematology? - (answers)Blood, that may
be clotted or anticoagulated with EDTA, heparin, or sodium citrate.
What are the types of normal blood cells? - (answers)RBCs or erythrocytes,
platelets or thrombocytes (PLT), WBCs or leukocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes,
and granulocytes which include banded or segmented neutrophils, basophils, and
eosinophils.
What is CBC and what does it count? - (answers)Complete blood count. RBCs,
WBCs, platelets, hemoglobin, and hematocrit.
What does MCV stand for? MCH? MCHC? What causes MCH and MCHC to be
increased or decreased? - (answers)Mean cell volume measures the size of RBCs.
Mean cell hemoglobin measures the weight of hemoglobin in RBCs. Mean cell
hemoglobin content measures the average concentration of hemoglobin within
RBCs. MCH and MCHC are increased with macrocytic anemia and decreased with
microcytic anemia.
What is white cell differential? (diff) - (answers)It categorizes cells in a 100-cell
differential based on their maturity levels, to determine if a disease or infection is
present.
,2|Page
What are the organs of the RES and what is their function? - (answers)Spleen,
liver, thymus, lymph nodes, and bone marrow. The RES is a network of cells
within these tissues that help with the formation and destruction of RBCs to fight
infection and prevent bleeding, the metabolism of iron to give to RBCs to carry
oxygen through hemaglobin, inflammation, and immunity.
What is one of the largest organs in the body and where is it found? Is the site of
active bone marrow always the same? - (answers)Bone marrow, found within the
cavities of cortical bones where the trabecular bone is also found. In utero and at
birth, most bones contain red bone marrow. At age 7, sites of bone marrow begin
to decrease and are restricted to proximal long bones, vertebrate, skull, sternum,
ribs, and pelvis. Adults have 50:50 ratio of red to yellow bone marrow.
What are the types of bone marrow? What is the composition of red bone
marrow? - (answers)There are two types of bone marrow. Red that is actively
producing RBCs, and yellow that is inactive, mainly composed of fat cells. Red
bone marrow is composed of extravascular cords that contain all blood cell
lineages, stem cells, progenitor cells, adventitial cells, and macrophages. The
cords are semi liquid and wedged between sinuses, supported by trabeculae.
How does red bone marrow receive blood supply? - (answers)Periosteal arteries
that wrap around the central vein supply blood. The periosteal arteries branch
out to form capillaries and sinuses which hook up to larger veins to return the
blood to circulation.
How are cells released from the bone marrow? What are measures the body can
take if RBCs aren't able to be supplied fast enough? - (answers)The cells are
released as the body needs them. RBCs are kept at a steady rate. Adventitial cells
, 3|Page
forming a discontinous line along the sinus will retract allowing the RBCs to exit
into circulation.
If needed, the yellow bone marrow can convert into red marrow to help make
RBCs.
What do the lymph nodes encapsulate? What do these do? -
(answers)Lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages. They play a role in
producing new lymphocytes, interacting with antigens and making antibodies,
and ridding the blood of bacteria and debris.
What is the largest lymphoid organ? What does it do? - (answers)Spleen, it
functions to act as a filter for blood to remove old or deformed RBCs from
circulation. These RBCs will either be culled (destroyed entirely) or pitted
(macrophages bite out damaged section). The spleen can also become a site of
RBC production if needed and is also a holding cell for platelets.
What is the composition of the spleen? - (answers)It has a red outer pulp and an
inner white pulp. Blood passes through the red pulp first that has macrophage
lined cords that determine if RBCs need to be removed or not. The blood then
enters the inner white pulp where the sinuses are to re-enter circulation.
In what cases would a spleen removal be necessary? How would this change the
components of the blood? - (answers)A spleen might be removed to treat some
cases of anemia. The blood would be seen to have a higher RBC count, but some
of them would be deformed or damaged. The blood would also be seen to have a
higher platelet count.
UAMS HEMATOLOGY (ACTUAL 2025/2026) EXAM 1
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
What is hematology? - (answers)The study of blood cell formation, destruction,
maturation, and number of blood cells which can vary with disease or infection.
What is the most common specimen of hematology? - (answers)Blood, that may
be clotted or anticoagulated with EDTA, heparin, or sodium citrate.
What are the types of normal blood cells? - (answers)RBCs or erythrocytes,
platelets or thrombocytes (PLT), WBCs or leukocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes,
and granulocytes which include banded or segmented neutrophils, basophils, and
eosinophils.
What is CBC and what does it count? - (answers)Complete blood count. RBCs,
WBCs, platelets, hemoglobin, and hematocrit.
What does MCV stand for? MCH? MCHC? What causes MCH and MCHC to be
increased or decreased? - (answers)Mean cell volume measures the size of RBCs.
Mean cell hemoglobin measures the weight of hemoglobin in RBCs. Mean cell
hemoglobin content measures the average concentration of hemoglobin within
RBCs. MCH and MCHC are increased with macrocytic anemia and decreased with
microcytic anemia.
What is white cell differential? (diff) - (answers)It categorizes cells in a 100-cell
differential based on their maturity levels, to determine if a disease or infection is
present.
,2|Page
What are the organs of the RES and what is their function? - (answers)Spleen,
liver, thymus, lymph nodes, and bone marrow. The RES is a network of cells
within these tissues that help with the formation and destruction of RBCs to fight
infection and prevent bleeding, the metabolism of iron to give to RBCs to carry
oxygen through hemaglobin, inflammation, and immunity.
What is one of the largest organs in the body and where is it found? Is the site of
active bone marrow always the same? - (answers)Bone marrow, found within the
cavities of cortical bones where the trabecular bone is also found. In utero and at
birth, most bones contain red bone marrow. At age 7, sites of bone marrow begin
to decrease and are restricted to proximal long bones, vertebrate, skull, sternum,
ribs, and pelvis. Adults have 50:50 ratio of red to yellow bone marrow.
What are the types of bone marrow? What is the composition of red bone
marrow? - (answers)There are two types of bone marrow. Red that is actively
producing RBCs, and yellow that is inactive, mainly composed of fat cells. Red
bone marrow is composed of extravascular cords that contain all blood cell
lineages, stem cells, progenitor cells, adventitial cells, and macrophages. The
cords are semi liquid and wedged between sinuses, supported by trabeculae.
How does red bone marrow receive blood supply? - (answers)Periosteal arteries
that wrap around the central vein supply blood. The periosteal arteries branch
out to form capillaries and sinuses which hook up to larger veins to return the
blood to circulation.
How are cells released from the bone marrow? What are measures the body can
take if RBCs aren't able to be supplied fast enough? - (answers)The cells are
released as the body needs them. RBCs are kept at a steady rate. Adventitial cells
, 3|Page
forming a discontinous line along the sinus will retract allowing the RBCs to exit
into circulation.
If needed, the yellow bone marrow can convert into red marrow to help make
RBCs.
What do the lymph nodes encapsulate? What do these do? -
(answers)Lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages. They play a role in
producing new lymphocytes, interacting with antigens and making antibodies,
and ridding the blood of bacteria and debris.
What is the largest lymphoid organ? What does it do? - (answers)Spleen, it
functions to act as a filter for blood to remove old or deformed RBCs from
circulation. These RBCs will either be culled (destroyed entirely) or pitted
(macrophages bite out damaged section). The spleen can also become a site of
RBC production if needed and is also a holding cell for platelets.
What is the composition of the spleen? - (answers)It has a red outer pulp and an
inner white pulp. Blood passes through the red pulp first that has macrophage
lined cords that determine if RBCs need to be removed or not. The blood then
enters the inner white pulp where the sinuses are to re-enter circulation.
In what cases would a spleen removal be necessary? How would this change the
components of the blood? - (answers)A spleen might be removed to treat some
cases of anemia. The blood would be seen to have a higher RBC count, but some
of them would be deformed or damaged. The blood would also be seen to have a
higher platelet count.
