Practical of Clinical Hematology Mechanisms of Abnormal cell formation Lab 2

Target Cells Target cells appear in the peripheral smear as a bull’s eye–shaped cell. They are seen in the peripheral blood due to three mechanisms: (a) as an artifact (b) due to decreased volume because of loss of hemoglobin (c) due to increased red cell surface membrane

As cholesterol increases in the plasma, the red cell surface expands, resulting in increased surface area.

Spherocytes Spherocytes are a distinctive morphology and are recognized as dense, small, round red cells lacking central pallor. Spherocytes, however, result from four mechanisms: Hereditary Spherocytosis. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Thermal damage. Natural red cell death.

Heinz body Heinz body inclusions are large inclusions that are rigid, distort the cell, and hang on the cell periphery . These inclusions are formed from denatured or precipitated hemoglobin that occurs in the G6PD-deficient individual on exposure to the oxidizing agent, because the lack of the G6PD enzyme causes oxidative destruction of the red cell

As the inclusion-laden red cells pass through the spleen, the Heinz bodies are pitted from the cell surface and what remains are bite or helmet cells.