nuclear:cytoplasmic (N:C) ratio

nu·cle·ar:cy·to·plas·mic (N:C) ra·ti·o

(nū'klē-ăr-sī-tō-plaz'mik rā'shē-ō) The ratio of the volume of the cell's nucleus to the volume of the cytoplasm. In general, as blood cells mature, the N:C ratio decreases.