Practical Hematology Lab

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to red blood cell morphology and abnormalities as discussed in the Practical Hematology Lab lecture.

RBC Morphology

The study and observation of the size, shape, and characteristics of red blood cells.

Anisocytosis

Variations in red blood cell size, indicating potential underlying conditions.

Poikilocytosis

The presence of abnormally shaped red blood cells.

Rouleaux formation

Stacking of red blood cells resembling a stack of coins, often due to increased plasma proteins.

Agglutination

Irregular clumping of red blood cells, which can be temperature dependent.

Normocytic

Red blood cells that are of normal size, typically around 8μm.

Microcytic

Red blood cells smaller than normal, associated with conditions like iron deficiency anemia.

Macrocytic

Red blood cells larger than normal, often related to deficiencies in vitamins such as B12 or folate.

Hypochromia

Increased central pallor in red blood cells due to decreased hemoglobin concentration.

Polychromasia

Red blood cells that take on varying shades due to residual ribosomal RNA, indicating reticulocytosis.

Basophilic stippling

Presence of fine or coarse granules in the red cells due to precipitated ribosomes, often seen in lead poisoning.

Howell-Jolly bodies

Nuclear fragments found in red blood cells, commonly seen in individuals who have had a splenectomy.

Pappenheimer bodies

Iron-containing granules found in red blood cells, associated with various forms of anemia.

Cabot rings

Reddish-blue thread-like rings in red blood cells, associated with severe anemias.

Schistocytes

Fragmented red blood cells indicative of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia.

Echinocytes

Red blood cells with short, blunt projections, often caused by artifactual changes.

Acanthocytes

Red blood cells with irregularly spaced projections, associated with liver disease or post-splenectomy.

Dacryocytes

Teardrop-shaped red blood cells, often found in conditions like bone marrow fibrosis.

Keratocytes

Cells with horn-like projections, indicative of severe conditions such as uraemia.

Sickle cells

Red blood cells that are sickle-shaped, associated with sickle cell anemia.

Target cells

Red blood cells with a bull's-eye appearance, associated with certain types of anemia.

Spherocytes

Sphere-shaped red blood cells lacking central pallor, commonly seen in hereditary spherocytosis.

Stomatocytes

Red blood cells with a mouth-shaped form due to changes in membrane composition.

Envelope form cell

Red blood cells that resemble an envelope, associated with various anemias.

Erythrocyte inclusion

Various inclusions seen in red blood cells during microscopy, indicating specific conditions.

Reticulocytes

Immature red blood cells indicating a response of the bone marrow to demand.