Question

What are target cells?

Answer 1

Hint: The patient with haemoglobin E and beta thalassemia has a variety of target cells. Target cells, also known as codocytes, have an abundance of cell layers in comparison to cell volume. In liver infection, macrocytic target cells can be found, and thalassemia may have microcytic target cells.

Complete answer:
Codocytes, also known as target cells, are RBCs that resemble a shooting objective with a bull’s eye.
Target cells are dainty RBCs with an excess of cell film, causing the cells to expect a chime shape while available for use. When the cells in a smear are levelled out, the highest point of the chime is pushed to the centre, forming a focal objective or bull’s eye.
In a blood film, these cells appear thinner than usual, owing to their whiteness - the thickness of which is determined by microscopy. A disproportional expansion in the proportion of surface layer territory to volume characterises these cells. This improves the cells' osmotic delicacy by allowing them to take up more water for a given amount of osmotic pressure.
Target cells are typically found in the following clinical conditions:
1. Infection of the liver
2. Haemoglobinopathies are a type of haemoglobinopathy.
3. Thalassemia
4. After splenectomy
5. A scarcity of iron
Target cell development reduces the amount of oxygen that flows through the blood, rendering it incapable of transporting it to all areas of the body. Increases in target cells are the result of a change in the trade balance between RBCs and cholesterol.

Note:
A disproportional expansion in the proportion of surface layer region to volume characterises these cells. This is also referred to as "relative membrane excess." It is due to either an expanded red cell surface region (expanded beyond normal) or, more likely, a decreased intracellular haemoglobin content (which may cause a strange reduction in cell volume without influencing the measure of layer region).