Keratocyte Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.

These are the MediaLab courses that cover Keratocyte and links to relevant pages within the course.

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Red Cell Disorders: Peripheral Blood Clues to Nonneoplastic Conditions
Schistocytes vs. bite cells Schistocyte is a general term for a fragmented red blood cell that may assume various shapes, some with horn-like projections (keratocytes), triangle-forms (triangulocytes), and helmet shapes, as illustrated in the upper photograph. Schistocytes are formed when erythrocytes are forced through a vessel blocked with interlacing fibrin strands and the red cells are sliced into fragments. True schistocytes are devoid of central pallor. These damaged cells continue to circulate while healing their torn edges. Finally, they are removed by the spleen. Bite cells (lower photograph) appear when an abnormal hemoglobin aggregate (Heinz body) is nibbled out of a red cell's cytoplasm by the spleen leaving a bitten apple appearance. Glucose 6-PD deficiency secondary to chemical poisoning or injury by oxidant drugs are settings for Heinz body formation, and the telltale bite cells remain as evidence. Hemolytic anemia associated with severe liver disease is another setting where bite cells are formed.	View Page
The underlying condition where the defective erythrocytes marked by arrows are of diagnostic importance is:	View Page

Red Cell Morphology
Which of the following terms describes the cell seen in the center of this field?	View Page
The cell in the center of this slide has been described as a:	View Page
Match the forms of poikilocytosis on the left with the physiological/environmental condition associated with their formation on the right:	View Page
Schistocytes Schistocytes are red cell fragments which are formed when fibrin strands come in contact with circulating red cells. The strands cut a small piece from the original cell. This is the same mechanism which causes the formation of keratocytes. A schistocyte can be seen in the center of this field.	View Page
Synonym for keratocytes The synonyms for keratocytes are horn and helmet cells.	View Page
Match the following terms with their synonyms.	View Page
The predominant forms of abnormal morphology seen in this slide are:	View Page
The cell seen in the center of this field is:	View Page
The abnormal form seen in the center of this slide is:	View Page
The abnormal form seen in the center of this slide is:	View Page
The predominant abnormal forms seen in this field are:	View Page
Keratocyte Two projections are clearly visible in the keratocyte seen in the center of this slide.	View Page
Keratocytes Keratocytes are cells which have been damaged due to contact with fibrin strands. Since the cut is incomplete, however, no hemoglobin has been lost from the cell. Keratocytes have one or two projections which may vary in length from a short point to a longer string. These projections are formed when red cells come in contact with fibrin strands during circulation. Two keratocytes can be seen in this field. The one in the center to the left of the platelet has a lightly-stained projection. The keratocyte in the lower part of the screen is more pronounced. A knizocyte can be seen in the upper left portion of the field.	View Page
Another Keratocyte Another example of a helmet cell is seen in the center of this field. Examples of conditions in which keratocytes can be seen include intravascular coagulation, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, glomerulonephritis, and rejection of renal transplants. The diagnosis of these disorders is not based on the presence of keratocytes.	View Page
Schistocytes Two slightly larger fragments can be seen in this slide. One is lower center, and the other is lower right. Two dacryocytes or teardrop cells are seen in the upper center. Several ovalocytes are also present in this field. Schistocytes are seen in the same conditions as keratocytes and have a short survival time in circulation. Schistocytes have somewhat more clinical significance than keratocytes.	View Page
The cell in the center of this slide is an example of a:	View Page