Physiology of blood cells and haematological terminology

Question 1

Anisocytosis

Answer 1

Red blood cells show more variation in size than is normal

Question 2

Poikilocytosis

Answer 2

Red blood cells show more variation in shape than is normal

Question 3

Microcytosis

Answer 3

Red blood cells are smaller than normal

Question 4

Macrocytosis

Answer 4

Red blood cells are larger than normal

Question 5

Leucocytosis

Answer 5

Too many white blood cells

Question 6

Leucopenia

Answer 6

Too few white blood cells

Question 7

Neutrophilia

Answer 7

Too many neutrophils

Question 8

Neutropenia

Answer 8

Too few neutrophils

Question 9

Lymphocytosis

Answer 9

Too many lymphocytes

Question 10

Eosinophilia

Answer 10

Too many eosinophils

Question 11

Thrombocytosis

Answer 11

Too many platelets

Question 12

Thrombocytopenia

Answer 12

Too few platelets

Question 13

Erythocytosis

Answer 13

Too many Red blood cells

Question 14

Reticulocytosis

Answer 14

Too many reticulocytes

Question 15

Lymphopenia/Lymphocytopenia

Answer 15

Too few lymphocytes

Question 16

Atypical lymphocyte/atypical mononuclear cell

Answer 16

Abnormal lymphocyte

-seen in infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever)

Question 17

Left shift

Answer 17

Increase in non-segmented neutrophils or neutrophil precursors in the blood

• from inflammation or infection
• band cells with no segmentation indicate rapid production during infection

Question 18

Toxic granulation

Answer 18

Heavy granulation of neutrophils

from infection, inflammation, tissue necrosis and pregnancy

Question 19

Hypersegmented neutrophil

Answer 19

increase in average number of neutrophil lobes

- from vitamin B12/folic acid deficiency

Question 20

Howell-Jolly body

Answer 20

Nuclear remnant in a RBC

-common cause=lack of splenic function

Question 21

Red cell agglutinates

Answer 21

Irregular clumps of RBCs (not tidy stacks)

• from antibody on cell surface
• sticks better in cold temperatures

Question 22

Rouleaux

Answer 22

Stacks of RBCs

-from alterations in plasma proteins

Question 23

Fragments/schistocytes

Answer 23

Small pieces of Red blood cell

-indication cell has fragmented

Question 24

Sickle cells

Answer 24

crescent shaped

-from Hb S polymerisation when it is present in high concentrations

Question 25

Elliptocytes

Answer 25

Elliptical shaped | -seen in hereditary elliptocytosis and iron deficiency

Question 26

Target cells

Answer 26

accumulation of haemoglobin in the centre of the central pallor area -from obstructive jaundice, liver disease, haemoglobinopathies, hyposplenism

Question 27

Poikilocyte shape variety

Answer 27

- spherocytes - irregularly contracted cells - sickle cells - target cells - elliptocytes - fragments

Question 28

Polychromasia

Answer 28

Increased blue tinge to RBC cytoplasm | -indication of young RBCs

Question 29

Irregularly contracted cells

Answer 29

Irregular outline, smaller than normal, no central pallor | -from oxidant damage to cell membrane and haemoglobin

Question 30

Spherocytes

Answer 30

~spherical shaped, regular outline, no central pallor - from cell membrane loss without equivalent cytoplasm loss so cell forced to round up - seen in hereditary spherocytosis (not all spherical cells)

Question 31

Hypochromia

Answer 31

larger area of central pallor than normal (normal ~1/3 diameter pale) - normal pallor from disc shape (less Hb in centre) - hypochromia from lower Hb content and concentration and flatter cell - often seen with microcytosis - 'hypochromic' RBCs

Question 32

Hyperchromia

Answer 32

Cells lack central pallor -from abnormal shape or being thicker than normal (can have many causes as abnormally shaped cells often lack a central thinner area) -'hyperchromatic'/ 'hyperchromic' RBCs

Question 33

Macrocytic

Answer 33

RBCs are larger than normal or anaemia with large RBCs (lymphocyte as reference material)

Question 34

Normocytic

Answer 34

RBCs are normal size or anaemia with normal sized RBCs (lymphocyte as reference material)

Question 35

Microcytic

Answer 35

RBCs are smaller than normal or anaemia with small RBCs (lymphocyte as reference material)

Question 36

Microcyte

Answer 36

Red blood cell that is smaller than normal

Question 37

Macrocyte

Answer 37

RBC that is larger than normal =large erthyrocyte | -variety of types (round macrocytes, oval macrocytes, polychromatic macrocytes)

Question 38

Right shift

Answer 38

Increase in number of neutrophil lobes