Erythrocyte Indices

Flashcards summarizing key vocabulary and concepts related to erythrocyte indices, their definitions, and related conditions.

Erythrocyte Indices

Used for determining the size, content, and hemoglobin concentration of red cells.

Mean Cell Volume (MCV)

Average size of the red cells, expressed in femtoliters (fl). Normal range is 80-100 fl.

Mean Cell Hemoglobin (MCH)

Average amount of hemoglobin in a single red cell, expressed in picograms (pg). Reference range is 27-32 pg.

Mean Cell Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)

Concentration of hemoglobin in 1 dl of packed red cells, expressed in grams/dl. Reference range is 30-35 grams/dl.

Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)

Quantitative measure of the variation in red cell size; normal range is 11.0 to 14.5. An increased RDW indicates more variation in red cell sizes.

Hypochromic Red Cells

Red cells with decreased hemoglobin content, resulting in a larger central pale area.

Hereditary Spherocytosis

Characterized by spherocytes which are perfectly round, smaller than normal red cells, and lack central pallor.

Dimorphic Anemia

Characterized by the presence of microcytic and macrocytic cells, often seen in sideroblastic anemias.

Microcytic Anemia

Condition where red cells are smaller than normal and often hypochromic due to iron deficiency.

Macrocytic Anemia

Condition where red cells are larger than normal, often associated with various conditions.