Hemacytometer is a term used in biology to measure the concentration of blood cells in a sample. The spelling of this word can be challenging due to the presence of the letter "y" and "o" in combination with "meter". Phonetically, the term can be transcribed as /ˌhiːməˈsaɪtəmɪtər/ with stress falling on the second syllable. The "hema" portion is pronounced as "hee-muh", and the "cyto" segment is pronounced as "sai-tuh". The last two syllables with "meter" is pronounced as "mit-uh".
A hemacytometer is a specialized glass chamber used in laboratory settings to accurately quantify and measure the concentration of cells in a given sample. It consists of a glass microscope slide with a rectangular indentation, known as a counting chamber, engraved on its surface. The counting chamber is divided into grids or squares of a known size and volume, making it easier to count and calculate the cell concentration.
To use a hemacytometer, the sample containing the cells is mixed with a diluent, typically a special liquid that diffuses into the chamber. This ensures that the cells are evenly distributed throughout the chamber, allowing for accurate counting. The cells settle on the bottom of the counting chamber due to gravity, allowing for a clear and focused visual examination under a microscope.
By counting the cells in multiple grids or squares and applying a simple mathematical formula, the total number of cells in the original sample can be determined. This enables scientists and researchers to measure cell concentration, which is crucial for various biological, medical, and pharmaceutical applications.
Hemacytometers are commonly used in disciplines such as hematology, microbiology, oncology, and cell biology. They play an essential role in experiments, quality control, and diagnostic procedures, serving as a reliable and standardized tool for cell counting and analysis.
An appliance for counting the blood-cells; hematometer, hemometer.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "hemacytometer" is derived from two main components: "hema-" and "-cytometer".
1. "Hema-" is derived from the Greek word "haima", meaning blood.
2. "-Cytometer" is derived from the Greek word "kutos", meaning cell, and the suffix "-meter", meaning a device used for measurement.
Combining these components, "hemacytometer" literally translates to a device used for the measurement of blood cells. It refers to a specialized microscope slide used for counting blood cells in medical and laboratory settings.