Erythrocyte Abnormality

Question 1

Refers to variability in cell size based on observing a stained blood smear.

Answer 1

Anisocytosis

Question 2

• The diameter of the cell is > 8μm.
• Larger than the nucleus of a small normal lymphocyte
• Associated with a mean cell volume (MCV) of >100 fL

Answer 2

Macrocytes

Question 3

• The diameter of the cell is < 6μm
• Smaller than the nucleus of a normal small lymphocyte
• Associated with an MCV of <80 fL

Answer 3

Microcytes

Question 4

• thorn cell
• no area of central pallor

Answer 4

Acanthocyte

Question 5

• Schistocyte, helmet cell, keratocyte
• Fragments of red blood cells may be triangular, helmet, or irregular in shape.
• Evidence of mechanical damage to the red blood cells.

Answer 5

Fragmented red cell

Question 6

• Drepanocyte
• Thin, elongated erythrocytes with pointed ends, dense staining, and no central pallor.
• May be straight or crescent-shaped or appear to be folded and exhibit S, V, or L shapes
• Increased mechanical fragility due to the polymerization of hemoglobin S.

Answer 6

Sickle cell

Question 7

• Round, densely stained cells lacking any central pallor.
• Erythrocytes that have lost the normal biconcave disc shape.

Answer 7

Spherocyte

Question 8

• Dacryocyte
• Elongated or pear-shaped erythrocytes, pointed at one end only and resembling a teardrop.

Answer 8

Teardrop cell

Question 9

• Burr cell
• Evenly distributed, fairly uniformly-sized rounded or pointed spicules on the surface of the cell membrane.

Answer 9

Echinocyte

Question 10

• Elliptocyte
• Oval or elliptical erythrocytes that range in shape from slightly egg-shaped to rod or pencil forms.
• Have normal central pallor with the hemoglobin concentrated at the ends of the elongated cells.

Answer 10

Ovalocyte

Question 11

• Elongated, slit-like area of central pallor arising from its uniconcave disc shape
• central pallor resembles a mouth

Answer 11

Stromatocyte

Question 12

• Codocyte
• Has a central dense area of hemoglobin surrounded by a ring of nearly colorless pallor and a peripheral ring of hemoglobin.
• Bell-shaped cell

Answer 12

Target cell

Question 13

• Increased central pallor

Answer 13

Hypochromia

Question 14

• Diffuse blue, gray, or pale-purple staining of slightly immature erythrocytes
• Presence of residual cytoplasmic RNA

Answer 14

Polychromatophilia

Question 15

• Hyperchromia
• Lack of central pallor
• Increased hemoglobin concentration in the red cell, resulting in a dense, deep staining red cell.
• only cell that contains more hemoglobin than normal

Answer 15

Spherocytes