Through the Microscope: Blood Cells - Life's Blood

Howell-Jolly Bodies

Howell-Jolly bodies are spherical blue-black inclusions of red blood cells seen on Wright-stained smears. They are nuclear fragments of condensed DNA, 1 to 2m in diameter, normally removed by the spleen.

They are seen in severe hemolytic anemias, in patients with dysfunctional spleens or after splenectomy.