Classification of anemias is based on changes in cell sizes and hemoglobin content, indicated by which suffixes?

• A. -cytic and -chromic
• B. -poietic and -globinic
• C. -cytogenic and -chromogenic
• D. -chromic and -cytopenic

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that anemia classification uses two red cell features: size and hemoglobin content per cell. The suffix -cytic signals cell size (macrocytic = large cells, microcytic = small cells, normocytic = normal size). The suffix -chromic signals hemoglobin content (hypochromic = pale due to less Hb, normochromic = normal Hb). So you can describe an anemia as microcytic-hypochromic, macrocytic-normochromic, and so on. Other suffixes listed aren’t used to describe these per-cell properties—for example, -poietic relates to production, and -gl binic or -chromogenic aren’t standard terms for RBC morphology. Therefore, -cytic and -chromic are the correct pair for sizing and Hb content.