RBC Morphology Flashcards
(37 cards)
1
Q
Erythropoiesis
A
Production of RBCs
2
Q
Erythropoiesis
Where is Happens
A
Occurs in the bone marrow with aid of erythropoietin
* stored in kidneys
3
Q
Erythropoiesis
Cellular Changes
A
- Cytoplasm size decreases
- Nucleus size decreases
- Chromatin clumps
- Basophilic –> Eosinophilic
4
Q
RBC Cell Stages
(5)
A
- Rubriblast
- Prorubricyte
- Rubricyte
- Metarubricyte
- Reticulocyte
5
Q
Reticulocyte
A
- Cytoplasm stains bluish-buff (ribosomes)
- No central pallor
- Only 50% will carry oxygen
6
Q
Cat RBC
A
- 90 day lifespan
- Round shape
- Little to no central pallor
- Smaller than dogs
7
Q
Dog RBC
A
- 100-110 day lifespan
- Biconcave shape (discocyte)
- Larger than cats
8
Q
Anisocytosis
A
- Abnormal variation in RBC size
- Slight, Moderate, or Marked
9
Q
Polychromasia
A
- Variation in cell colors
- Immature RBC stains blue
10
Q
Howell-Jolly Bodies
A
- Nuclear remnant material inside RBC
- Sign of regeneration
- If no reticulocytes seen - sign of macrophage dysfunction (spleen supposed to filter out)
11
Q
A
Howell-Jolly Bodies
12
Q
Nucleated RBC
A
- Counted as WBC on cell counter
- May be seen in regeneration, CHF, IMHA, lead poisoning, hemangiosarcoma, liver disease
13
Q
Poikilocytosis
A
- Abnormally shaped RBCs
- Exact shape should be used for specific diseases
- Don’t report on lab forms
14
Q
Leptocytes
A
- Large cells with thin membrane and fold easily
- Target cells - codocytes
- Barr cells - knizocytes
- Sign of liver disease
- Report as either target or barr cells
15
Q
A
Barr Cell - Knizocytes
16
Q
Acanthocytes
A
- Multiple, irregular, thorny projections
- Seen with hemolytic anemia, liver disease, and hemangiosarcoma
- Typically see with DIC
17
Q
A
Acanthocytes
18
Q
Spherocytes
A
- Lack central pallor
- Formed by macrophages partially eating antibody-coating on cell
- Easier to recognize in dogs
- Seen only in IMHA
- Quantitate with a percentage
19
Q
A
Spherocytes
20
Q
Heinz Bodies
A
- Oxidation and denaturation of hemoglobin in RBC
- Most common in cats
- Causes: ingestion of onions, acetaminophen, drugs
- Quantitate with a percentage
21
Q
A
Heinz Bodies
22
Q
Echinocytes
A
- Multiple, small evenly distributed projections
- Common cause due to crenation
- Sign of renal disease
23
Q
A
Echinocytes
24
Q
Schistocytes
A
- Fragments of RBCs
- RBC sheared from intravascular trauma
- Seen in disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
- Quantitate with a percentage
25
Schistocytes
26
Signs of Regeneration
* Nucleated RBCs
* Anisocytosis
* Polychromasia
* HJB
27
Rouleaux
* Stacked RBCs
* Common in cats
* Will separate with saline
28
Rouleaux Cause
* Increases with increased globulin concentation (inflammation)
* Artifact with older blood before smear or if refrigerated
29
Agglutination
* Clumping of cells
* Will not separate with saline
* Seen in cases of autoimmune disease
* Form due to excess antibodies on cell surface
30
Keratocytes
* Blister cells
* Oxidative injury to RBC
* Intravascular trauma
* Liver disease
31
Keratocyte
32
Eccentrocyte
* Hemoglobin concentrated to one side of the cell
* Oxidative injury of RBC
* Dog: zinc or onion toxicity
* Cat: Tylenol, lymphoma, diabetes, hyperthyroid
33
Eccentrocyte
34
Basophilic Stippling
* Small, dark basophilic granules scattered within RBC
* Lead poisoning (dogs), regenerative anemia, bone marrow disorders
35
Dacrocyte
* Teardrop shaped RBC
* May represent fragmentation
* Artifact if tails pointing same direction
36
Metarubricyte
* Will need to correct WBC for these
* Called NRBCs in circulation
37
Stomatocyte
* Coffee bean look
* Cell folded
* Usually seen with hypochromasia
