The word elements of the term polycythemia mean

• A. Blood condition of many cells
• B. Condition of large blood cells
• C. Lack of normal red blood cells
• D. State of reduced blood cells

Answer: (A)

Poly- means many, cyt- relates to cells, and -emia denotes a blood condition. Put together, polycythemia describes a blood condition of many cells. In practice, this usually means an elevated number of red blood cells, giving the blood a higher cell mass. It isn’t about unusually large cells or a shortage of cells, which would point to different terms.