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Howell-Jolly bodies are small, round, basophilic (dark purple) inclusions found within red blood cells (RBCs). They represent remnants of nuclear DNA that were not expelled during erythrocyte maturation in the bone marrow. Under normal conditions, these nuclear remnants are removed by the spleen’s macrophages.

The presence of Howell-Jolly bodies in a blood smear is commonly associated with splenectomy, functional asplenia, megaloblastic anemia, or severe hemolytic anemia. As such, they are important diagnostic indicators of splenic dysfunction or underlying hematological disorders.