Red Blood Cell Morphology and Indices

MCV stands for Mean Corpuscular Volume, which refers to the average volume of a red blood cell. When MCV increases, it is associated with hyperchromasia (increased coloration of cells), while a decrease in MCV indicates hypochromasia (reduced coloration of cells). The incorrect answers provided do not accurately reflect the true meaning and significance of MCV and its variations.

MCHC specifically refers to the concentration of hemoglobin within the packed cell volume, providing information on the average hemoglobin content in red blood cells. The incorrect answers provided do not accurately reflect the measurement or significance of MCHC.

Anisocytosis refers to an increase in the degree of size variability in RBCs, while lymphocytes are a type of WBC. The incorrect answers provided do not accurately match the descriptions in the question.

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) is a specific measurement used to determine the size of the red blood cells. Hemoglobin level, platelet count, and red blood cell count are important blood values but do not provide direct information on the size of the RBCs in relation to microcytosis and macrocytosis.

Schistocytes are actually red blood cell fragments, not specialized immune system cells or white blood cells. Their formation is due to mechanical disruption when passing through tight capillaries, not from abnormal protein structures or genetic mutations.

Basophilic stippling refers to the presence of multiple basophilic granules in red blood cells. It is typically observed in lead poisoning due to inhibition of enzymes responsible for heme synthesis.

Polycythemia is a condition characterized by an increase in red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hg), and packed cell volume (PCV) due to an increase in circulating RBC. It is not related to insufficient iron intake, white blood cell (WBC) count increase due to infection, or decreased hemoglobin levels due to dehydration.

Poikilocytosis is a term used to describe abnormal shapes of red blood cells (RBCs), typically observed in conditions such as anemia or certain blood disorders.

Spherocytes are characterized by being smaller, darker staining, and lacking a central pallor compared to normal RBCs. These differences are associated with immune-mediated destruction of RBCs, leading to conditions such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Mycoplasma haemofelis is a specific blood parasite that infects red blood cells (RBCs), causing anemia in infected animals.

Stomatocytes refer to red blood cells that have a mouth-like or slit-like area in the center of the cell. This condition is commonly associated with liver disease and electrolyte imbalance, impacting the shape and function of the red blood cells.

Polychromasia and reticulocytes are both terms used to describe immature red blood cells, but the distinction between them lies in the type of staining used to visualize them. Polychromasia refers to immature red blood cells stained with Wright-Giemsa stain, while reticulocytes are immature red blood cells stained with new methylene blue. Therefore, both terms ultimately refer to the same type of cells at different stages of maturation.

Dacryocytes are tear-shaped cells while Elliptocytes are oval-shaped cells, also known as camel cells.

In immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, the destruction of red blood cells leads to the presence of spherocytes (small, dense RBCs), polychromasia (variation in color of RBCs), and nucleated RBCs (RBCs with a nucleus). The incorrect answers provided do not reflect the typical findings in immune-mediated hemolytic anemia.

Howell-Jolly bodies are small, round remnants of nuclear material found in red blood cells, and they are caused by the failure of the normal removal of nuclear material during the maturation process of red blood cells, usually occurring in conditions such as asplenia or splenic dysfunction.

Target cells, also known as codocytes, are red blood cells that have a characteristic target or bull's eye appearance when viewed under a microscope. This is caused by having too much membrane compared to the amount of hemoglobin present in the cell.

MCH stands for Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin, not Mean Corpuscular Hg or any other incorrect options provided. It refers to the average amount of hemoglobin present in a red blood cell.

A hyperchromic cell has increased staining intensity, while a hypochromic cell has reduced staining intensity which can be observed in a picture.