Haematology

What this unit covers

The resources follow the path of a blood sample through a veterinary clinic. Some cover the cells themselves, such as Blood Cells - basics, Leukocytes and WBC ID. Others deal with results and what they mean, including CBC cards, the quiz on PCV and TPP, and the quiz on automated analyser CBC.

Where to start

Begin with the flashcards Blood, Sweat and Smears - DB. They ask what haematology tests for and which terms describe a rise or fall in blood cell values. Then move to LCB intro, which covers Hct/PCV, MCV, MCH and MCHC, bone marrow biopsy sites and what to give in a transfusion.

Red cells, white cells and clotting

1. For red cells, open the Erythrocytosis mind map. It separates physiological, relative and absolute causes, including the short rise caused by fear, excitement or pain. Then try the Anaemia quiz and the IMHA flashcards, which ask how IMHA is diagnosed and what a secondary cause might be.
2. For white cells, use LCB bad stuff for stress leukogram, lymphocytosis and leukaemia questions.
3. For clotting, the Disorders of Coagulation in Small Animal mind map splits primary, secondary and tertiary haemostasis, with von Willebrand disease, haemophilia A and B, and rodenticide poisoning.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a mind map first to see how a topic branches. Then take a quiz on the same topic and note what you missed. Return to the map for those branches, and use flashcards for the facts that will not stick. The Blood Transfusion mind map, the Blood Groups and Inheritance flashcards and the quiz Transfusion Medicine work well as a set.

Where it sits

This unit belongs to the strand Body Systems in Health and Disease in Veterinary medicine. Choose one topic today, try its quiz, and make your own flashcards from the gaps.