hematocrit
noun
-ˌkrit
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Our blood is mostly made up of four components: plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and colorless blood cells called platelets. An instrument called a hematocrit (because it "judges" the blood) is used to separate a sample of blood into its components. The normal hematocrit for men is about 48%, for women about 38%. An abnormal proportion of red blood cells, either too many or too few, is a good early indicator of many diseases. So when you give blood as part of a physical exam, your hematocrit is one of the findings your doctor will often check.
Examples of hematocrit in a Sentence
Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 27 Jan. 2015
Lundby’s hypothesis is based on the idea that your kidneys are constantly monitoring hematocrit, trying to keep it in a normal range.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 1 July 2020
However, if the liquid portion is greatly increased through training, the proportion that makes up the hematocrit will decrease accordingly, falsely suggesting anemia.
—Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 28 Apr. 2022
If your total blood is made up of 45 percent red blood cells by volume, your hematocrit is 45.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 1 July 2020
If heat training causes your plasma volume to increase, that will lower your hematocrit.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 1 July 2020
Typically, the ratio of solids in the blood (RBCs, white blood cells and platelets called the hematocrit) to the liquid portion is approximately 50-50.
—Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 28 Apr. 2022
His complete blood count, to include his white blood cell count, his hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet count were all normal.
—Jamie Ducharme, Time, 18 Jan. 2018
Dictionary Entries Near hematocrit
Cite this Entry
“Hematocrit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hematocrit. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hematocrit
nouncalled also packed cell volume
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