50 RBC Morphology MCQs with Answers Key! Test your knowledge on anisocytosis, poikilocytosis, inclusions, and clinical correlations. Perfect for hematology students, lab technicians, and medical professionals.
This comprehensive guide features 50 MCQs on Red Blood Cell (RBC) Morphology, covering key topics such as:
✔ Size variations (anisocytosis, microcytosis, macrocytosis)
✔ Shape abnormalities (poikilocytosis, spherocytes, schistocytes, sickle cells)
✔ Color changes (hypochromia, polychromasia, hyperchromia)
✔ RBC inclusions (Howell-Jolly bodies, Heinz bodies, basophilic stippling)
✔ Disease associations (iron deficiency, thalassemia, hemolytic anemias, DIC)
Who Is This For?
- Medical & lab science students preparing for exams
- Hematology professionals refreshing their knowledge
- USMLE, ASCP, and other board exam candidates
Features:
✅ Section-wise MCQs for structured learning
✅ Answer key included for self-assessment
✅ Clinical correlations for real-world application
Enhance your understanding of RBC abnormalities and diagnostic hematology with this essential MCQ bank!
RBC Morphology MCQs:
- What is the term for RBCs of unequal size?
a) Anisocytosis
b) Poikilocytosis
c) Microcytosis
d) Macrocytosis - Microcytic RBCs are typically seen in:
a) Iron deficiency anemia
b) Megaloblastic anemia
c) Hemolytic anemia
d) Aplastic anemia - Macrocytosis is commonly associated with:
a) Vitamin B12 deficiency
b) Iron deficiency
c) Thalassemia
d) Chronic disease anemia - Normocytic RBCs have an MCV in the range of:
a) <80 fL
b) 80–100 fL
c) >100 fL
d) >120 fL - Which condition is associated with microcytosis and hypochromia?
a) Thalassemia
b) Folate deficiency
c) Liver disease
d) Hemolytic uremic syndrome
- The term for RBCs with abnormal shapes is:
a) Anisocytosis
b) Poikilocytosis
c) Spherocytosis
d) Reticulocytosis - Spherocytes are seen in:
a) Hereditary spherocytosis
b) Iron deficiency anemia
c) Sickle cell anemia
d) Megaloblastic anemia - Target cells (codocytes) are associated with:
a) Liver disease
b) Iron deficiency
c) Hemoglobinopathies
d) All of the above - Schistocytes are fragmented RBCs seen in:
a) DIC (Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation)
b) Thalassemia
c) Megaloblastic anemia
d) Aplastic anemia - Sickle cells (drepanocytes) are characteristic of:
a) Sickle cell anemia
b) G6PD deficiency
c) Hereditary elliptocytosis
d) Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
- Hypochromic RBCs have:
a) Increased central pallor (>1/3 of cell diameter)
b) No central pallor
c) Basophilic stippling
d) Howell-Jolly bodies - Polychromasia indicates:
a) Increased reticulocytes
b) Iron deficiency
c) Lead poisoning
d) Hemoglobin C disease - Hyperchromic RBCs are seen in:
a) Spherocytosis
b) Thalassemia
c) Iron deficiency
d) Megaloblastic anemia - Basophilic stippling is associated with:
a) Lead poisoning
b) Hemolytic anemia
c) Both a and b
d) None of the above - Which RBC inclusion is composed of denatured hemoglobin?
a) Heinz bodies
b) Howell-Jolly bodies
c) Pappenheimer bodies
d) Cabot rings
- Howell-Jolly bodies are remnants of:
a) Nuclear DNA
b) Ribosomal RNA
c) Mitochondria
d) Iron granules - Pappenheimer bodies are composed of:
a) Iron
b) DNA
c) Hemoglobin
d) Lipids - Cabot rings are seen in:
a) Severe anemias
b) Megaloblastic anemia
c) Both a and b
d) None of the above - Heinz bodies are detected with:
a) Supravital staining (e.g., methylene blue)
b) Wright stain
c) Prussian blue stain
d) Sudan Black B - Which inclusion is seen in G6PD deficiency after oxidative stress?
a) Heinz bodies
b) Howell-Jolly bodies
c) Pappenheimer bodies
d) Basophilic stippling
- Teardrop cells (dacrocytes) are seen in:
a) Myelofibrosis
b) Thalassemia
c) Hemolytic anemia
d) Iron deficiency - Burr cells (echinocytes) are associated with:
a) Uremia
b) Liver disease
c) Artifact (storage changes)
d) All of These - Acanthocytes are seen in:
a) Abetalipoproteinemia
b) Liver disease
c) Both a and b
d) None of the above - Ovalocytes are characteristic of:
a) Hereditary elliptocytosis
b) Sickle cell disease
c) Thalassemia
d) Iron deficiency - Rouleaux formation is seen in:
a) Multiple myeloma
b) Hyperproteinemia
c) Both a and b
d) None of the above
- Which RBC shape is associated with hereditary elliptocytosis?
a) Ovalocytes/Elliptocytes
b) Spherocytes
c) Schistocytes
d) Target cells - Stomatocytes are RBCs with a:
a) Slit-like central pallor
b) No central pallor
c) Dark-staining hemoglobin
d) Irregular projections - Acanthocytes (spur cells) are seen in:
a) Severe liver disease
b) Abetalipoproteinemia
c) Post-splenectomy
d) All of the above - Echinocytes (burr cells) differ from acanthocytes because they:
a) Have uniform, blunt projections
b) Are caused by artifact (e.g., drying)
c) Are associated with uremia
d) All of the above - Dacrocytes (teardrop cells) are classic for:
a) Myelofibrosis
b) Thalassemia
c) Iron deficiency
d) Hemolytic anemia
- Heinz bodies are formed due to:
a) Oxidative denaturation of hemoglobin
b) Nuclear remnants
c) Iron overload
d) Ribosomal aggregation - Howell-Jolly bodies are seen post-splenectomy because:
a) The spleen normally removes them
b) They are iron deposits
c) They indicate lead poisoning
d) They are lipid droplets - Basophilic stippling is caused by:
a) Aggregated ribosomes
b) DNA remnants
c) Hemoglobin crystals
d) Glycogen storage - Pappenheimer bodies stain positive with:
a) Prussian blue (iron stain)
b) Wright stain
c) Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)
d) Sudan Black - Cabot rings are thought to be remnants of:
a) Microtubules from mitotic spindle
b) Nuclear membrane
c) Mitochondria
d) Rough endoplasmic reticulum
- Sickle cells (drepanocytes) require which condition to form?
a) Low oxygen tension
b) High pH
c) Excess iron
d) Cold temperatures - Which condition shows bite cells and blister cells?
a) G6PD deficiency
b) Sickle cell anemia
c) Thalassemia major
d) Hereditary spherocytosis - RBC agglutination on a peripheral smear suggests:
a) Cold agglutinin disease
b) Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia
c) Both a and b
d) None of the above - Rouleaux formation is caused by:
a) Increased plasma proteins (e.g., fibrinogen)
b) Abnormal RBC membranes
c) Iron deficiency
d) Hemoglobinopathy - Which anemia shows dimorphic RBC population (two distinct cell sizes)?
a) Sideroblastic anemia
b) Megaloblastic anemia
c) Aplastic anemia
d) Hemolytic anemia
- Supravital stains (e.g., methylene blue) are used to detect:
a) Heinz bodies
b) Howell-Jolly bodies
c) Pappenheimer bodies
d) All of the above - Schistocytes are best identified using:
a) High-power magnification (100x)
b) Prussian blue stain
c) Reticulocyte count
d) Osmotic fragility test - False spherocytes may be caused by:
a) Prolonged EDTA storage
b) High humidity
c) Refrigeration of blood samples
d) All of the above - Which stain is used to confirm iron in Pappenheimer bodies?
a) Prussian blue
b) Wright-Giemsa
c) Sudan Black
d) Gram stain - Osmotic fragility testing is diagnostic for:
a) Hereditary spherocytosis
b) Thalassemia
c) Sickle cell disease
d) Iron deficiency
- Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) shows:
a) Schistocytes
b) Spherocytes
c) Target cells
d) Acanthocytes - Lead poisoning is associated with:
a) Basophilic stippling
b) Ringed sideroblasts
c) Both a and b
d) None of the above - Malaria infection may cause:
a) Howell-Jolly bodies
b) Heinz bodies
c) Schüffner’s dots (in RBCs)
d) Cabot rings - Hemoglobin C crystals appear as:
a) Hexagonal, dense inclusions
b) Linear, filamentous structures
c) Round, punctate dots
d) Irregular, spiculated projections - Which condition causes HbH inclusions (golf ball-like aggregates)?
a) Alpha-thalassemia
b) Beta-thalassemia
c) Sickle cell disease
d) G6PD deficiency
Why These Questions?
- Comprehensive Coverage: From basics (anisocytosis) to advanced (HbH inclusions).
- Clinical Focus: Links morphology to diseases (e.g., MAHA → schistocytes).
- Exam-Relevant: Aligns with ASCP, USMLE, and MLS/MLT board exams.
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