Elliptocyte Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Elliptocyte and links to relevant pages within the course.
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| What best describes the cells seen in this illustration: | View Page |
| The abnormal RBCs shape seen in this illustration is: | View Page |
| The photograph here is of a peripheral smear sent for hematologic review. No clinical information for the patient was sent with the slide. What is the first course of action that the reviewer should take to assist him/her in interpreting the findings on this blood smear? | View Page |
| Hereditary ovalocytosis and elliptocytosis Ovalocytes are rod shaped erythrocytes with nearly parallel lateral walls. If the long axis of an erythrocyte is no more than twice as long as the short axis, the cell is an ovalocyte. If the long axis is more than twice as long as the short axis, the cell is an elliptocyte. Hemoglobin tends to collect at each end of these cells. The ends of the cells are rounded and never pointed, to be differentated from sickle cells. Ovalocytes present in greater than 25% of red cells on the blood smear are characteristic of hereditary ovalocytosis. The oval shape is attributed to a defect in horizontal red cell membrane protein interactions. Lesser numbers of circulating ovalocytes may be present in various anemias including megaloblastic, sideroblastic, iron deficiency, and in thalassemias. A rare ovalocyte (less than 1%) may be found on almost any peripheral blood smear. Resistance to malarial infection may be a beneficial attribute of hereditary ovalocytosis. | View Page |
| The cell seen in the center of this slide is a/an: | View Page |
| Elliptocytes Elliptocytes can vary in appearance from slightly oval to thin pencil-shaped forms. Less than 1% of red cells in normal blood are oval. Many examples of elliptocytes can be seen in this smear from a patient with hereditary elliptocytosis(HE). All cases of HE are associated with weakening of membrane skeleton and defective association of proteins that hold the skeleton together. The function of elliptocytes appear to be unaffected in most cases. Notice that the cells vary in shape from slightly oval to cigar-shaped. The largest percentage of elliptocytes is seen on smears from patients with hereditary elliptocytosis. Since many of these patients have no symptoms, the presence of elliptocytes on the smear may be the only diagnostic feature. | View Page |
| Synonym for Elliptocytes The synonym for an elliptocyte is a pencil form. | View Page |
| Match the following terms with their synonyms. | View Page |
| The identification of which of the following abnormal forms may contribute significantly to specific clinical diagnosis: | View Page |
| The predominant abnormal forms present in this field are: | View Page |
| Elliptocytes Another example of elliptocytes as seen in hereditary elliptocytosis. Other conditions which may have varying numbers of elliptocytes include thalassemias, iron deficiency, megaloblastic anemia and anemia associated with leukemia. | View Page |
| The cell in the center of the field is a/an: | View Page |
| More Elliptocytes Elliptocytes can also be seen in this smear. | View Page |
| The predominant abnormal forms seen in this slide are: | View Page |