Hematology: Basics
by Paul Moss, PhDHematology is the branch of medicine that focuses on the study, diagnosis, and management of disorders affecting the cellular components of blood. These include disorders of the erythrocytes (red blood cells), such as all types of anemia; disorders of the platelets, such thrombophilia; and disorders of the leukocytes (white blood cells), such as leukemia and lymphoma. The field is closely related to cancer research. In fact, the subspecialty dedicated to treating neoplastic disorders of the blood is called hematology-oncology.
For this course, the medical student needs to be familiar with the basic physiology of hematopoiesis, especially the steps taken within the bone marrow to produce functioning blood components.
Assessment of a patient’s hematological profile occurs every day in clinical practice by examining a simple complete blood count (CBC). A competent physician must primarily be a very acute clinician in order to catch from the patient’s history and physical examination the key characteristics of blood disorders (e.g., tiredness and generalized pallor in anemia). Additionally, they must be proficient at interpreting blood values in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of a patient’s status.
Hematological disorders are commonly seen in routine practice, from women with anemia due to heavy menstrual bleeding to teenagers with B symptoms due to leukemia.
Course Details
- Videos 15
- Duration 1:54 h
- Quiz questions 81
- Articles 7
