RBC Morphology Quick Recall

Question 1

Answer 1

polychromatophils
indicative of regenerative response

Question 2

Answer 2

acanthocytes

indicative of change in lipid composition in the cell membrane OR fragmentation injury

Question 3

Answer 3

keratocyte

indiciative of mechanical injury/fragmentation injury/shearing of RBCs, often accompanied by schizocytes

Question 4

Answer 4

schizocyte

indicative of mechanical red cell injury/fragmentation/shearing

Question 5

Answer 5

spherocyte

indicative of IMHA

Question 6

Answer 6

echinocytes

usually an artifact of drying, usually no clinical relevance

Question 7

Answer 7

eccentrocytes

indicative of oxidative damage

Question 8

Answer 8

heinz body

indicative of oxidative damage

Question 9

Answer 9

howell-jolly bodies

remanant of the RBC nucelus, may be indicative of a regenerative response

Question 10

Answer 10

basophilic stippling

aggregation of RNA, indicative of a regernative response or lead poisoning

Question 11

Answer 11

metarubricyte

nucelated RBC, indicative of regernative response

Question 12

Answer 12

hypochromasia

indicative of an iron deficiency anemia, copper deficiency, inherited condition, lack of hemoglobin production

Question 13

Answer 13

macrocyte

indicative of regeneration

Question 14

Answer 14

agglutination, indicative of IMHA

Question 15

Answer 15

ghost cells
indicative of intravascular hemolysis