| RBC | <haematology> Cell specialised for oxygen transport, having a high concentration of haemoglobin in the cytoplasm (and little else). Biconcave, anucleate discs, 7nm diameter in mammals, nucleus contracted and chromatin condensed in other vertebrates. Acronym: RBC (18 Nov 1997) |
|---|---|
| microcytic anaemia | Any anaemia in which the average size of circulating erythrocytes is smaller than normal, i.e., the mean corpuscular volume is 80 cu um or less (normal range, 82 to 92 cu um). (05 Mar 2000) |
| hypochromic microcytic anaemia | Anaemia due to iron deficiency or thalassaemia, and characterised by lower than normal mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| familial microcytic anaemia | A rare type of autosomal recessive hypochromic microcytic anaemia associated with a defect of iron metabolism characterised by high serum iron, hepatic iron deposits, and absence of stainable bone marrow iron stores. (05 Mar 2000) |