Eponyms
This manually prepared, Romanowsky-stained specimen allows direct visualization of abnormal cell morphology such as blasts, inclusions, and parasites.
What is a peripheral blood smear?
This prefix, derived from Greek for “without,” appears in a condition defined by decreased oxygen-carrying capacity rather than absence of circulating volume.
What is "-an"? (anemia)
A condition whose name includes a root meaning “small cell” involves reduced MCV often due to impaired hemoglobin synthesis.
What is microcytic anemia?
This virus, whose name derives from “love” or “desire,” infects B cells and is associated with lymphoproliferative disorders and certain lymphomas.
What is Epstein-Barr virus?
Despite its name suggesting blood destruction, this process may occur extravascularly via macrophages rather than within circulation.
What is hemolysis?
This binucleated cell with prominent nucleoli, often described as having “owl’s eyes”, is the diagnostic hallmark of a lymphoma.
What is a Reed-Sternberg cell?
This suffix, meaning “immature precursor,” is used in naming early hematopoietic cells that retain proliferative capacity.
What is "-blast"?
A disorder whose name derives from roots meaning “many cells in the blood” is caused by a mutation leading to autonomous erythrocyte production; this condition is characterized by low erythropoietin levels.
What is polycythemia vera?
This intraerythrocytic parasite’s name derives from Latin for “bad air,” reflecting early beliefs about its origin rather than its mosquito vector.
What is malaria? (Plasmodium)
This term suggests a disorder of white cells, yet may present primarily with bone marrow failure affecting multiple lineages.
What is leukemia?
This RBC inclusion, consisting of nuclear DNA remnants, is classically seen in patients with asplenia or post-splenectomy.
What are Howell-Jolly bodies?
The word “capillary” derives from the Latin capillus, referring to this structure composed of keratinized epithelial cells.
What is hair?
A disorder whose name includes a root meaning “blue” involves a copper-binding protein critical for iron transport.
What is ceruloplasmin deficiency?
This organism, whose name derives from Greek for “small rod,” infects erythrocytes and endothelial cells, causing vascular proliferation in immunocompromised patients.
What is Bartonella?
This disorder’s name suggests a process limited to nighttime, yet hemolysis occurs continuously due to complement-mediated destruction of red cells.
What is paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria?
Inclusions of denatured hemoglobin in red blood cells during oxidative stress, also known as Heinz bodies, named after the German pathologist Robert Heinz, are classically seen in what disorder?
What is G6PD deficiency?
This process, whose name derives from roots meaning “blood formation,” occurs primarily in this organ during mid-gestation, before shifting to bone marrow later in development.
What is the liver?
A morphologic descriptor derived from Greek for “irregular” is used when erythrocytes display diverse shapes on peripheral smear.
What is poikilocytosis?
This descriptive term, derived from a cross-shaped emblem rather than organism morphology, refers to a tetrad pattern seen in a parasitic infection of red blood cells.
What is a Maltese cross?
This term suggests a primary platelet disorder, yet pathology may originate from abnormal megakaryocyte proliferation in the marrow.
What is essential thrombocytopenia?
This syndrome, associated with iron deficiency anemia, presents with dysphagia, esophageal webs, and an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma.
What is Plummer-Vinson syndrome?
Named after the Greek god of metalworking, this ferroxidase works alongside ferroportin to enable iron transport into circulation.
What is hephaestin?
Named from a Greek root meaning “iron”, this anemia is characterized by defective heme synthesis leading to mitochondrial iron accumulation in erythroid precursors.
What is sideroblastic anemia?
This bacterium, whose name reflects its corkscrew-like shape, may lead to a hematologic disorder characterized by pancytopenia in late stages.
What is Treponema pallidum?
This condition’s name suggests increased clotting, yet patients may present with both thrombosis and bleeding due to widespread consumption of coagulation factors.
What is disseminated intravascular coagulation?