HEMATOLOGY

Morphology of the red cells and their precursors

A. Pronormoblast (Rubriblast) Pronormoblast is the earliest morphologically recognizable red
cell precursor.
Size: 20-25µm in diameter.
Nucleus: large, round to oval and contains 0-2 light bluish, indistinct nucleoli. The chromatin
forms a delicate network giving the nucleus a reticular appearance.
Cytoplasm: there is a narrow (about 2µm) rim of dark blue cytoplasm. There may be a
perinuclear halo. The nuclear/cytoplasm ratio is about 8:1.
B. Basophilic Normoblast
Size: 16-18µm in diameter.
Nucleus: round or oval and smaller than in the previous stage. The chromatin forms delicate
clumps so that its pattern appears to be denser and coarser than that seen in the
pronormoblast. No nucleoli are seen.
Cytoplasm: slightly wider ring of deep blue cytoplasm than in the pronormoblast and there is a
perinuclear halo. The nuclear/cytoplasm ratio is about 6:1
C. Polychromatophilic Normoblast
Size: 12-14µm in diameter
Nucleus: smaller than in the previous cell, has a thick membrane, and contains coarse
chromatin masses.
Cytoplasm: as the nucleus is shrinking the band of cytoplasm is widening. It has a lilac
(polychromatic) tint because of beginning of hemoglobinization. The nuclear cytoplasmic ratio
varies from 2:1 to 4:1.
D. Orthochromatic Normoblast
Size: 10-12µm in diameter.
Nucleus: small and central or eccentric with condensed homogeneous structure less chromatin.
It is ultimately