Physician Assistant Exam Review

Leukemia Leukemia is a disease characterized by the overproduction of a particular type of blood cell. This process often inhibits the production of normal blood cells These leukemia cells do not function as proper cells Leukemia does not form a solid ...

Sickle Cell Anemia Genetic Pattern Autosomal recessive Homozygote inheritance of Hemoglobin S (HbS) Predominantly seen in the African American population Oxygenated HbS does not dissolve well and forms a gel that distorts the shape of the RBC into a si...

Macrocytic Anemia Macrocytic anemias produce strange dysfunctional blood cells. This will result in some hemolysis and progress to splenic dysfunction as the spleen becomes overloaded. Howell-Jolly bodies are DNA remnants seen with a macrocytic anemia ...

Anemia Anemia means low RBC or Hgb count. A patient could be bleeding out and have a low Hgb or they could have a dietary deficiency. Anemia is a starting place. As we get more detailed and more specific we can get a more clear diagnosis and treatment ...

Red Blood Cells Priming Questions What are the four polypeptide chains that make up hemoglobin? Define polycythemia What does MCV stand for and what does it mean? Define hemolysis. Red Blood Cells Simplified The specific shape of a RBC gives it an incr...

Red Blood cells, White blood cells, Platelets Our Three Basic Problems We either have to many We don’t have enough What’s being made isn’t working correctly Cytoses Polycythemia – to many RBC’s Thrombocytosis -to many Platelets Cytopenias Anemia – low ...

Parotitis/Sialadentitis Painful swelling of the parotid one or both parotid glands Cause Viral infection Historically the number one cause was the mumps Parainfluenza and Epstein barr are the most common HIV Bacterial infection Staph Aureus is the most...

Oropharyngeal Infections/Inflammatory disorders Aphthous ulcers (Canker sore) Round ulcer on oral mucosa Unknown etiology Clinical Presentation Small open sore in the mouth The sore is yellow or white Labs,

Acute/chronic sinusitis An inflammation/infection of the sinuses Typically secondary to an upper respiratory infection or seasonal allergies Most common pathogens Strep pneumoniae Haemophilus Influenzae Moraxella catarrhalis Staph aureus Predisposing F...

> Acoustic Neuroma (Vestibular Schwannoma) Slow growing benign tumor of the vestibulocochlear nerve, CN VIII Occurs in males and females equally Most often found in those betw...