sickle cell

Thân thiện

A doctor shows a patient a diagram of a sickle cell.

Definition

Noun: * An abnormal red blood cell: A sickle cell is a red blood cell that has an abnormal, rigid, crescent or sickle shape. This distorted shape is caused by an abnormal type of hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen. These cells are fragile, can block blood flow, and have a shorter lifespan than normal red blood cells.

Usage

The term "sickle cell" is primarily used in medical and biological contexts to describe the specific malformed blood cell itself. * Under the microscope, the doctor identified a sickle cell among the normal, round red blood cells. * The blockage in the blood vessel was caused by a cluster of sickle cells. * A key feature of the disease is the presence of sickle cells in the bloodstream.

Advanced Usage

• Sickle cell trait: This refers to the genetic condition where a person carries one gene for sickle hemoglobin and one normal gene. Individuals with the trait usually do not have the disease but can pass the gene to their children.
  • His blood test showed he had sickle cell trait.
• Sickle cell crisis: A term for a painful episode that occurs when sickle cells block blood flow to an area of the body.
  • The patient was hospitalized due to a severe sickle cell crisis.

Variants and Related Words

• Sickle-cell disease (noun): The inherited blood disorder caused by having two sickle cell genes. It is characterized by chronic anemia, pain, and other serious health complications. (Note: This is the name of the medical condition, distinct from the single cell).
• Sickle hemoglobin (noun): The abnormal form of hemoglobin (hemoglobin S) that causes red blood cells to sickle.
• Sickling (noun/verb): The process by which red blood cells become sickle-shaped.

Synonyms

• Drepanocyte (noun): The technical medical term for a sickle-shaped red blood cell.

Related Phrases

• To sickle (verb): The process of a red blood cell becoming sickle-shaped.
  • Red blood cells sickle when oxygen levels are low.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an abnormal red blood cell that has a crescent shape and an abnormal form of hemoglobin