A bone marrow sample from Patient X has abnormally-low numbers of megakaryocytes. What body process would you expect to be impaired in Patient X?
A. temperature regulation by vasoconstriction or vasodilation of superficial blood vessels
B. blood clotting following injury to a blood vessel
C. defense against foreign microorganisms
D. transport of oxygen
E. maintaining normal osmotic balance between the blood and the interstitial fluids
Clarify Question
What is the key concept addressed by the question?
What type of thinking is required?
Gather Content
What do you already know about megakaryocytes? What other information is related to the question?
Choose Answer
Given what you now know, what information is most likely to produce the correct answer?
Reflect on Process
Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
B. blood clotting following injury to a blood vessel
Clarify Question
What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· The question is asking about the consequences of a decreased megakaryocyte count.
What type of thinking is required?
· Apply level:
o You are being asked to take what you already know and use, or apply, it to the shortage of megakaryocytes.
Gather Content
What do you already know about megakaryocytes? What other information is related to the question?
· Blood cells are produced from stem cells in the red marrow of bones.
· Blood cells go through different developmental stages.
· A committed cell is a cell that is on a definite, specific developmental path.
· Megakaryocytes are committed cells in the bone marrow.
· Megakaryocytes give rise to platelets.
· Platelets play a vital role in clot formation after injury.
Choose Answer
Given what you now know, what information is most likely to produce the correct answer?
· It is white blood cells, not megakaryocytes that defend the body against foreign invaders.
· Red blood cells, not megakaryocytes, transport oxygen.
· Temperature regulation and osmotic balance are not functions of megakaryocytes.
· Megakaryocytes are large cells that give rise to platelets. Since platelets are required for a blood clot, a low number of megakaryocytes would result in low platelet numbers, which would impair the clotting response.
Reflect on Process
Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
· Apply level:
o Answering this question correctly depended on your ability to use the function of megakaryocytes in a new situation. If you got an incorrect answer, did you remember that megakaryocytes produce platelets, or that platelets are required for blood clotting? Did you have trouble extending the function of platelets to determine the correct answer?
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