Hematology Cell Morphology

Front 1

Name + Cause

Back 1

Macrocytosis

Cause: Megaloblastic changes, asynchronism (Fewer mitotic divisions- cytoplasm matures normally, but nucleus maturation is slower)

*(Also present anisocytosis, hypochromasia)

Front 2

Name + Cause

Back 2

Microcytosis

Cause: Decreased Hgb, defect in Hgb production

Front 3

Back 3

Normochromic

RBCs have normal complement of Hgb

Front 4

Name + Cause

Back 4

Hypochromasia

Cause: Decreased Hgb

(often seen with microcytes and target cells)

Front 5

Name + Cause

Back 5

Polychromasia

Cause: Remnant RNA, immature RBC, "busy bone marrow" (normal compensatory mechanism)

Front 6

Overall...

Back 6

Poikilocytosis

Variation in RBC shape

Front 7

Name + Cause

Back 7

Ovalocytes

Cause: Defect in spectrin/ankyrin proteins

Front 8

Name + Cause

Back 8

Elliptocytes

Cause: Defect in spectrin/ankyrin proteins

Front 9

Name + Cause

Back 9

Target Cell (Codocyte)

Cause: Increased membrane lipids and decreased Hgb

Front 10

Name + Cause

Back 10

Sickle Cell (Drapanocyte)

Cause: Abnormal Hgb S, hereditary

(Amino acid substitution on Hgb Beta chain at 6th AA- stiff Hgb bundles and deforms cell)

*(Also present are ovalocytes, target cells, polychromasia)

Front 11

Name + Cause

Back 11

Crystal Cell (complex)

Cause: Condensation of abnormal Hgb SC

(Amino acid substitution on Hgb Beta chain at 6th AA)

Front 12

Name + Cause

Back 12

Crystal Cell (Simple)

Cause: Condensation of abnormal Hgb C

(Amino acid substitution on Hgb Beta chain at 6th AA)

Front 13

Name + Cause

Back 13

Burr Cell (Echinocyte)

Cause: Changes in tonicity

Front 14

Name + Cause

Back 14

Acanthocyte

Cause: Abnormal membrane lipids

Front 15

Name + Cause

Back 15

Schistocytes

Cause: Fragmented RBCs due to hemolysis or macrophages biting off inclusions

Front 16

Name + Cause

Back 16

Tear Drop Cell (Dacryocyte)

Cause: Myelofibrosis/Extramedullary hematopoiesis causes RBCs to push through fibers- deforms shape OR macrophages biting off inclusions

Front 17

Name + Cause

Back 17

Spherocyte

Cause: Hereditary defect in spectrin/ankyrin proteins or loss of membrane

(High MCHC, Low MCV)

Front 18

Name + Cause

Back 18

Stomatocyte

Cause: Hereditary defect in Na+/K+ pump or Rh null

Front 19

Name + Cause +

Troubleshoot

Back 19

Agglutination

Cause: Cold agglutinin or clotted specimen

Troubleshoot: Prewarm sample if IgM or redraw sample if clotted

Front 20

Name + Cause +

Troubleshoot

Back 20

Rouleaux

Cause: Increased plasma proteins or immunoglobulins- masks zeta potential

Troubleshoot: Saline replacement therapy (If rouleaux, will disperse; if agglutination, will not)

Front 21

Name + Cause

Back 21

Howell-Jolly Body

Cause: Remnant DNA, "busy bone marrow", or patient had splenectomy

Front 22

Name + Cause

Back 22

Basophilic Stippling

Cause: Remnant RNA precipitate, immature RBC, "busy bone marrow"

*(Coarse basophilic stippling associated with lead poisoning)

Front 23

Name + Cause

Back 23

Pappenheimer Bodies

Cause: Granules of iron, excess or underutilization of iron

Front 24

Name + Cause

Back 24

Cabot Ring

Cause: Nuclear envelope remnant

Front 25

Name + Cause

(Supravital stain)

Back 25

Heinz Bodies

Cause: Oxidative injury, denatured Hgb precipitate, G6PD deficiency

Front 26

Name + Cause

Back 26

Hypersegmented Neutrophil

Cause: Megaloblastic changes, fewer mitotic divisions

(Usually seen with macrocytosis, asynchronous development)

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Back 27

Basophil

Front 28

Back 28

Eosinophil

Front 29

Back 29

Monocyte

Front 30

Back 30

Lymphocyte

Front 31

Name + Cause

Back 31

Reactive Lymphocytes

Cause: Increased in viral infections

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Back 32

Band

Front 33

Back 33

Rubricyte

Front 34

Back 34

Platelets

Front 35

Back 35

Rubriblast

Front 36

Back 36

Prorubricyte

Front 37

Back 37

Rubricyte

Front 38

Back 38

Metarubricyte

Front 39

(Wright's stain)

Back 39

Polychromasia

Front 40

Back 40

Nucleated RBC, metarubricyte

Front 41

Hgb all pushed to one side, usually an artifact

Back 41

Envelope Cell

Cause: Condensation of Hgb C

Front 42

(Supravital stain)

Back 42

Reticulocyte