Kristen Motil

Blood work Case Study

Indie is a 42-year old marathon runner. She runs on average 6 marathons a year and has
since her late 20s. Recently, she has not been feeling well with bouts of headaches, diarrhea
and general stomach upset about once or twice a week. Indie has skipped her annual checkup the past two years and decided to see a doctor about her symptoms. Help Indie out by
reading her blood work and answering her questions below.
Blood pressure
Blood type
Platelets
Iron
Hematocrit
Red blood cell count
White blood cell count:
Neutrophil
Eosinophil
Basophil
Lymphocyte
Monocyte
Total cholesterol
HDL
LDL
pH
Calcium
Sodium

Emilys values
115/72 mm Hg
A
0.5%
120 ug/dL
50%
7.1 million/L/cu mm

Normal range
Look in notes 120/80

55%
15%
< 1%
25%
5%
175
65
110
7.38
9.5 mg/dL
137 mEq/L

40-60%
3-8%
0-1%
20-35%
4-10%
Look in notes <200mg/dL
Look in notes >60mg/dL
Look in notes 100-129mg/dL
7.35-7.45
8.5-10.5 mg/dL
135-145 mEq/L

less than 1%
60-160 g/dL
Look in notes 38%-46%
4.2-6.9 million/L/cu mm

Given the lab test results for Indie, answer the following questions:
1. What is the function of red blood cells? Describe the structure of red blood cells that allows
them to their job. Include what is missing and what is present.
Carry oxygen and nutrients to other cells. Biconcave disc because it allows for more surface area
for more hemoglobin to hold more oxygen. Missing a nucleus and organelles. Hemoglobin is
present.
2. What is an average blood pressure? What is considered high blood pressure for both the
diastolic and systolic pressure? Does Indie have to worry about high blood pressure and her
sodium intake? Keep in mind that lower blood pressure than normal is not bad. Athletes often
have lower blood pressures than average.
120/80 mm Hg. Systolic- 140-159 / Diastolic- 90-99. No she does not.
3. Based on what you know about cholesterol, are Indies cholesterol levels okay? Based on the
information given about Indie, why might Indies HDL be relatively high and what does this
mean for her cardiovascular health?
Indies cholesterol levels are okay. Indies HDL levels are relatively high because shes extremely
active. HDL is good cholesterol and it removes the bad. It means that her cholesterol levels are
very good and that she isnt at risk of having heart troubles.

Kristen Motil
4. Indies calcium levels appear to be in the normal range. If she wanted to raise calcium levels
can you name one way to do this? If calcium levels were low, what disease would she be at risk
for (chapter 5)?
She could take a calcium supplement. Shed be at risk for osteoporosis.
5. Name 2 processes that we have discussed that require calcium (one in chapter 6 and one in
chapter 7).
Muscle contraction and blood clotting.
6. What does Indies hematocrit level suggest? Explain the risks involved with this behavior.
It suggests that she has a high red blood cell count. This could mean that she is blood doping. It
puts her at risk for unwanted blood clots, which could lead to her having a heart attack.
7. Based on the white blood cell information given, what might be making her feel sick to her
stomach? Explain. Keep in mind that white blood cells can increase in response to infections and
what their jobs are.
She might have a parasite because eosinophil is above the normal range. Eosinophil cells attack
parasites.
8. Compare and contrast the basic functioning of a macrophage and a neutrophil (how are they
similar and how are they different).
Macrophage- ingests foreign particles and infectious microorganisms by phagocytosis and live a
long time
Neutrophil- engulfs and digests a foreign particle thats infectious and then dies
Both use a form of endocytosis
9. If Indie were injured and needed blood, circle the blood type(s) that could be used. Explain
your answer using your understanding of antigens and antibodies found in this/these blood
type(s).
A. Name which of the following blood types that should be used: Type A Type O

Type AB

B. Explain your choice. Be sure to include antigens and antibodies in your explanation.
Indie has type A blood. This means she has type B antibodies. The only two things that matter
with mixing blood are the antibodies of the recipients blood and the sugars of the donors blood.
Her antibodies wont recognize a type A donor blood or a type O donor blood as foreign because
type B antibodies will only attack type B sugars. Since type O has no sugars, it can also be used.
If type B or type AB blood is used, it will cause a transfusion reaction. The B sugars in both type
B and type AB are considered antigens because they cause an immune response from the type B
antibodies in the recipients blood.