These B.Pharm notes on formation of haemoglobin (Chapter 15 of Human Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology I) summarise the key points for first semester pharmacy students and link to the complete PDF.
Table of Contents
Read the following document for full information
Chapter overview
Haemopoiesis is the formation of blood cells from stem cells in the bone marrow. Red blood cell production, called erythropoiesis, is stimulated by erythropoietin from the kidney in response to low oxygen. Each red cell contains haemoglobin, a protein made of four globin chains, each bound to a haem group containing iron. This chapter explains the formation of haemoglobin, the need for iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid, the lifespan of red cells, and how old cells are broken down in the spleen and liver.
Key points on formation of haemoglobin
- Sites and stages of haemopoiesis
- Erythropoiesis and its regulation by erythropoietin
- Structure of haemoglobin and its synthesis
- Iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid requirements
- Life span and destruction of red blood cells
Relevance to pharmacy practice
Deficiency of iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid is a common cause of anaemia and a frequent reason for pharmacist advice. Iron supplements are used for iron deficiency, vitamin B12 for pernicious anaemia, and folic acid in pregnancy and megaloblastic anaemia. Epoetin is given in renal anaemia. Knowing how red cells are made explains why these treatments work and why blood counts take weeks to improve.
Frequently asked questions
Where does haemopoiesis occur in adults?
Mainly in the red bone marrow of flat bones such as the sternum, ribs, pelvis and vertebrae.
What hormone stimulates red cell production?
Erythropoietin, released mainly by the kidneys when oxygen levels fall.
How long does a red blood cell live?
About 120 days, after which it is removed by macrophages in the spleen and liver.
Quick revision checklist
Before moving on, check that you can do each of the following without looking at your notes. Use this list on formation of haemoglobin as a self-test: tick a statement only when you can answer it aloud. Revisit any statement you cannot answer, then re-read the matching section of the PDF. Repeating this cycle two or three times before an exam builds the recall and confidence you need for both theory papers and viva.
- I can explain: sites and stages of haemopoiesis
- I can explain: erythropoiesis and its regulation by erythropoietin
- I can explain: structure of haemoglobin and its synthesis
- I can explain: iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid requirements
- I can explain: life span and destruction of red blood cells
Study and exam tips
Read the key points on formation of haemoglobin first, then study the PDF notes and redraw the main diagrams from memory. Link each concept to a drug or clinical example, and revisit the chapter before your internal and university examinations. Short daily revision works better than one long session. For additional reading, see the NCBI Bookshelf.
In B.Pharm examinations, short answer questions usually ask for definitions, classifications and labelled diagrams, while long answers on formation of haemoglobin ask for detailed descriptions with examples. Learn the headings in the order given in your syllabus, and add one clinical or drug-related example to each long answer to earn extra marks.
This post is part of the free B.Pharm Guru notes for the first semester. Every chapter of Human Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology I has a short summary, key points and a downloadable PDF written for the B.Pharm course, so you can revise quickly or study in depth.
Previous chapter (Chapter 14): body fluids, composition and functions of blood. Next chapter (Chapter 16): mechanisms of coagulation, blood grouping, rh factors and transfusion. View all HAP-I chapters.
