Medical cartoons

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Sometimes I get bored studying and end up illustrating on MS Paint. These are the ones I made for my current exam.
Myelofibrosis. Hematopoiesis is shifted away from the one marrow to areas such as the spleen, liver and lymph nodes. However, not all hematopoietic cells leave the marrow. About 10% remain but are abnormal. Megakaryocytes secrete fibroblast stimulating factor, resulting in the progression of diseases such as Polycythemia Rubra Vera to myelofibrosis. Red blood cells that remain in the bone marrow are now trapped by all the fibrous strands and are unable to get out of the marrow. Having squeezed through the fibrous strands, they end up damaged in a form called 'tear-drop cells' and these can be seen circulating in the peripheral blood.

Caput medusae. My sister had this book on Greek mythology when we were kids. 'Caput medusae' has always reminded me of the namesake of this sign (associated with liver disease).

The spleen is where red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets are removed from the circulation. In a healthy person, only damaged or old cells are removed by phagocytes that reside there. However, in some haematological diseases you get abnormal cells (spherocytes, sickle cell) and these are unable to squeeze through the sinusoids back out into the circulation. They end up being removed by the phagocyte.

Vaso-occlusive crisis. This is a medical condition that afflicts people with sickle cell disease. Abnormal cells form plugs that occlude small blood vessels causing pain due to the subsequent ischemia.

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