basic hematology terminology – Flashcards
Flashcard maker : Larry Charles
absolute count
calculation of absolute cell numbers based on percentage of type multiplied by the total cell count
acanthocyte
erythrocyte with irregularly shaped margins
acanthocytosis
variation in rbc size; w/o even cell size
agglutination
process in which particles aggregate or clump together
agranulocyte
wbc’s like monocyte and lymphocyte that do not have obvious cytoplasmic granules when viewed under a light microscope
anemia
below normal values in pcv, rbc count, or Hb level
anisocytosis
variation in rbc size; w/o even cell size
anticoagulant
chemical used to inhibit clotting of whole blood. the liquid portion of the sample harvested is plasma
azurophilic granules
large homogeneous and dense granules that stain blue with romanowsky stains
band cell
an immature neutrophil in which the nucleus is not lobulated but is in the form of a continuous band, horseshoe shaped, twisted or coiled
basophil
a class of granulocytic leukocyte that promotes the inflammatory response
basopenia
decreased numbers of a class of granulocytic leukocyte that promotes the inflammatory response
basophilia
increased number of basophils
basophilic
things that stain readily with basic, or blue dyes in many commonly used stains such as Wright’s Giemsa’s or Wright’s stain
basophilic strippling
presence of small, blue-staining granules in the erythrocyte
buffy coat
layer of wbc’s, platelets, and nucleated rbc’s in sedimented or centrifuged blood
codocyte
form of leptocyte or target cell
crenation
erythrocytes with spiny projections on the margin of the cell
differential
diagnostic evaluation of the number of blood cell types per cubic millimeter of blood
eosinopenia
decreased number of eosinophils
eosinophilia
increased number of eosinophils
erythrocyte
red blood cell
erythrophagocytosis
engulfing, or phagocytosis, of the erythrocyte
erythropoiesis
production of rbc’s
granulocyte
wbc containing granules
granulomatous
composed of a tuumorlike mass or nodule of granulation
hematology
the science dealing with the morphology of blood and blood-forming tissues, and with their physiology and pathology
heme
a nonprotein, iron-containing portion of hemoglobin
hemoccult
a qualitative test for hidden blood in the stool, based upon detecting the peroxidase activity of hemoglobin
hemogram
a graphic or tabular representation of the differential blood count
hemolysis
rupture of erythrocytes with release of hemoglobin
hemolytic
pertaining to, characterized by, or producing hemolysis
hemophilia
a hereditary condition of deficient blood coagulation; also called a bleeder
hemoglobin
an allosteric protein found in erythrocytes that transports molecular oxygen in the blood
heterophil
a finely granular polymorphonuclear leukocyte represented by neutrophils in humans, but characterized in other mammals by granules that have variable sizes and staining characteristics
hyperchromic
having a greater density of color or pigment
hypersegmentation
neutrophil with more than 5 lobes in the nucleus
hypochromic
erythrocyte with lack of decrease in staining intensity, low cellular Hb
left shift
presence of an increased number of immature(non-segmented) neutrophils in the circulation
leptocyte
thin, flattened hypochromic erythrocyte that has a normal diameter and a decreased mean corpuscular volume
leukemia
neoplastic disease in which a significant number of immature blast cells are found in the bone marrow and blood
leukocytosis
increase in circulating wbc numbers
leukopenia
decrease in circulating wbc numbers
lymphocyte
a class of agranulocytic leukocyte that has phagocytic and antibody formation functions
lymphocytosis
increased number of circulating lymphocytes
lymphopenia
decreased numbers of lymphocytic leukocytes in the blood
macrocyte
rbc with a diameter that is larger than normal
macrocytic
increased number of large rbc’s, increased MCV
microcyte
rbc with a diameter that is smaller than normal
microcytic
increased number of small rbc’s
monocytopenia
decreased number of monocytes
monocytosis
increased number of monocytes
neutrophilia
increased number of neutrophils
neutropenia
decreased number of neutrophilic leukocytes in the blood
NMB
new methylene blue, a basic dye used to stain cell nuclei and granules
normochromic
normal, pink-staining erythrocyte
normocytic
adjective used to describe an rbc of normal size
NRBC
nucleated rbc; an immature erythrocyte
pancytopenia
decrease in the rbc, wbc, and platelet lines
PCV
packed cell volume or hematocrit
plasma
fluid portion of the blood in which cells are suspended
poikilocytosis
the presence of large, irregularly shaped red blood cells
polychromasia
eyrthrocytes that have a bluish tint when stained with regular blood stains and are reticulocytes with NMB
polycythemia
a condition of many cells; clinically means excessive erythrocytes
rbc
red blood cells
right shift
presence of an increased number of hypersegmented neutrophils in the circulation
rouleaux
erythrocytes formed in stacks or columns
schistocytes
fragmented erythrocytes; helemt cells
sedimentation rate
rate at which rbc’s settle in their own plasma in a given amount of time
smudge cell
nucleated cell that has ruptured during smearing due to mechanical damage or increased fragility of the cell
spherocyte
small, dense, dark-stainging erythrocyte
spherocytosis
increased numbers of small, dense, dark-stainging erythrocytes
surpravital staining
use of a stain that has a low toxicity so that vital and functional processes can be studied in live cells
throbocyte
platelets
thrombocytopenia
decreased number of platelets
thrombocytosis
increased number of platelets
toxic neutrophils
neutophil showing certain morphological changes such as vaculoation, toxic granules, increased basophilia, or nuclear changes
wbc
white blood cell
