MICROANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Normally, red blood cells are disc-shaped and flexible enough to move easily through the blood vessels. If you have sickle cell disease, your red blood cells are crescent-or “sickle”-shaped. These cells do not bend or move easily and can block blood flow to the rest of your body.

Detailed explanation-2: -Red blood cells are usually round and flexible, so they move easily through blood vessels. In sickle cell anemia, some red blood cells are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These sickle cells also become rigid and sticky, which can slow or block blood flow.

Detailed explanation-3: -Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. With SCD, the hemoglobin forms into stiff rods within the red blood cells. This changes the shape of the red blood cells. The cells are supposed to be disc-shaped, but this changes them into a crescent, or sickle, shape.

Detailed explanation-4: -Poikilocytosis is a term for abnormal-shaped red blood cells in the blood. Poikilocytosis refers to an increase in abnormal red blood cells of any shape that makes up 10% or more of the total population.