How Do You Spell POLYCHROMASIA?

Pronunciation: [pˌɒlɪkɹə͡ʊmˈe͡ɪzi͡ə] (IPA)

Polychromasia is a medical term that refers to the abnormal appearance of red blood cells. The word is pronounced as /ˈpɑːliˌkroʊmeɪziə/, with the stress on the second syllable. The first two syllables "poli" mean multiple or many, while the last part "chromasia" refers to the color of the cells. The word's spelling follows a combination of Greek roots with the Latin suffix "-ia." The correct spelling of this term is crucial in the medical field to ensure clear communication and accurate diagnosis.

Meaning and Definition
Common Misspellings
Etymology
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POLYCHROMASIA Meaning and Definition

  1. Polychromasia is a term used in the field of hematology to describe a phenomenon observed in a blood smear. It refers to the presence of varying shades or colors of red blood cells (RBCs) within the sample. The prefix "poly-" means multiple or many, and "chroma" refers to color. This condition is commonly observed in certain blood disorders, particularly in cases of anemia.

    In a healthy individual, red blood cells are typically uniformly colored due to their iron-rich protein called hemoglobin, which gives them their characteristic red hue. However, during episodes of rapid RBC production or when the body is attempting to compensate for the decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, the bone marrow may release immature red blood cells that have not fully matured or acquired their usual homogenous red color.

    Polychromasia is especially noticeable upon microscopic examination of a blood smear, where the presence of multiple shades of blue-gray or pale pink cells can be observed alongside the normal red cells. The variation in color corresponds to different stages of maturation of the RBCs.

    This phenomenon is often associated with conditions such as iron deficiency anemia, hemolytic anemia, megaloblastic anemia, and other types of disorders that result in increased red blood cell turnover or insufficient production. The presence of polychromasia in a blood smear can therefore help hematologists or healthcare professionals in diagnosing and determining the underlying cause of anemia or other blood disorders.

  2. Polychromatophilia.

    A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for POLYCHROMASIA

  • oolychromasia
  • lolychromasia
  • -olychromasia
  • 0olychromasia
  • pilychromasia
  • pklychromasia
  • pllychromasia
  • pplychromasia
  • p0lychromasia
  • p9lychromasia
  • pokychromasia
  • popychromasia
  • pooychromasia
  • poltchromasia
  • polgchromasia
  • polhchromasia
  • poluchromasia
  • pol7chromasia
  • pol6chromasia
  • polyxhromasia

Etymology of POLYCHROMASIA

The word "polychromasia" comes from the combination of two Greek roots - "poly" meaning "many" and "chroma" meaning "color". "Polychromasia" refers to a blood condition where there is an abnormal variation in the color intensity of red blood cells, typically indicating the presence of younger and less mature red blood cells in the bloodstream.