The percentage of blood volume occupied by red blood cells, typically measured after centrifuging a blood sample. Normal values range from 36-46% in women and 41-53% in men.
From Greek 'haima' (blood) + 'krites' (judge or separator), coined in 1903. The term literally means 'blood separator,' referring to the centrifuge process that separates blood components by density.
When you spin blood in a centrifuge, it separates into distinct layers like a cocktail - red cells sink to the bottom, white cells form a thin 'buffy coat,' and plasma floats on top! The hematocrit is simply measuring how much of that tube is red.
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