Glossary Of Terms

anisocytes - cells showing more variation in size than normal
bilirubin - a breakdown product of haemoglobin
haptoglobins - produced by the liver to remove excess haem from the serum
hyperchromic - corpuscular [Hb] above 350 gl^-1
hypochromasia - unusually pale staining of the red cells
hypochromic - corpuscular [Hb] below 300 gl^-1
macrocytic - corpuscular volume above 96 fl
microcytic - corpuscular volume below 76 fl
normochromic - corpuscular [Hb] within the range 300-350 gl^-1
normocytic - corpuscular volume within the range 76-96 fl
poikilocytes - red cells which are abnormally shaped, as a result of abnormal erythropoiesis
polychromasia - varying degrees of staining of the red cells
salazopyrin - a drug that can cause haemolysis
schistocytes - cells showing varying degrees of fragmentation
spherocytes - red cells lacking the normal central pallor, having a spherical shape
target cell - cells having a surface disproportionately large compared to volume showing a central area of staining (resembles a Mexican Hat)

Abbreviations