anisochromasia
|an-i-so-chro-ma-sia|
🇺🇸
/ˌænɪsoʊkrəˈmeɪʒə/
🇬🇧
/ˌænɪsəkrəˈmeɪzɪə/
unequal coloration (staining)
Etymology
'anisochromasia' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'anisos' (unequal) and 'chroma' (color), with the suffix '-asia' used in medical Neo-Latin to indicate a state or condition.
'anisochromasia' was formed in New Latin/medical terminology from the Greek roots 'anisos' + 'chroma' + the suffix '-asia' and entered English usage via 19th/20th-century medical literature describing staining and coloration abnormalities.
Initially it referred generally to 'unequal coloration'; over time it has become a specific medical term describing 'unequal staining intensity of cells or tissues, especially red blood cells.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a condition in which cells or tissues (especially red blood cells on a blood smear) show unequal or variable staining intensity; variation in coloration due to differences in hemoglobin content or staining uptake.
The laboratory report noted marked anisochromasia in the peripheral blood smear, suggesting variable hemoglobinization of the red cells.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/16 21:40