The images are not necessarily from this case.

Peripheral smear

• Normal cells of blood as seen in a blood smear. This slide shows many red blood cells and one neutrophil.   Dr John Clancy
• Iron def anemia/blood smear.   Dr Ralph Leischner
• Iron def/normal blood smear comparison.  Dr Ralph Leischner
• Hypochromic-microcytic red cells due to iron deficiency  Dr Harry Messmore
• Peripheral smear showing hypochromic RBC due to thalassemia  Dr Harry Messmore
• Megaloblastic peripheral smear

Physical findings

• Pallor in man with iron deficiency post gastrectomy with Billroth TT anastomosis  Dr Harry Messmore
• Normal conjunctiva. Dr A.J. Chandrasekhar
• Smooth tongue in iron deficiency  Dr Harry Messmore
• Normal tongue.  Dr A.J. Chandrasekhar
• Koilonychia due to chronic iron deficiency (post gastrectomy 17 years with Billroth II anastomosis)  Dr Harry Messmore

Bone marrow

• Normal bone marrow iron (stain-Prussian blue)  Dr Harry Messmore
• Bone marrow-increased iron stores  Dr Harry Messmore
• Bone marrow-absent iron stores  Dr Harry Messmore

Reticulocytes

• The cells shown here are all stages in the development of erythrocytes. Generally in the red blood cell line: (1) the cells become progressively smaller, (2) the cytoplasm changes from blue to pink, and (3) the nucleus ultimately is lost altogether. Cells shown here include (in developmental order): 
  Top cell - proerythroblast  Lower row  left = basophilic normoblast or erythroblast. It is still blue, but is smaller; the nucleus is more condensed  middle = polychromatophilic normoblast or erythroblast. Cytoplasm is grayer or muddier; nucleus is even more condensed. 
  right = orthochromatic (or eosinophilic) normoblast. Cytoplasm is pinker and cell is smaller; nucleus is pyknotic. Dr John Clancy
• Reticulocytes with polyribosomal remnants (RNA) staining dark in their cytoplasm. They are slightly larger than the completely mature erythrocytes and are often found in the peripheral bloodstream at times when blood cells are being formed unusually rapidly (as during or after certain blood diseases).   Dr John Clancy
• Blood smear showing polychromasia-a sign of reticulocytosis  Dr Harry Messmore
• Reticulocytes in the blood in hemolytic anemia  Dr Harry Messmore
• The young cells in the r.b.c. line all have blue cytoplasm so the you to consider their size in identifying them.

Send comments to Dr. A.J. Chandrasekhar M.D.