Normal Blood Cell Morphology
Types of White Blood Cells
• White blood cells
— AKA: Leukocytes or WBCs
— Largest sized blood cells
— Lowest numbers in the blood
(4,500 – 11,000 per microliter)
— Formed in the bone marrow and
some in the lymph glands
— Primary cells of the immune system
— Fights disease and foreign invaders
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Types of White Blood Cells
• White blood cells
— Contain nuclei with DNA,
the shape depends on the type of cell
— Certain WBCs produce antibodies
— Life span is from 24 hours to several years
—Size is 8-20 micrometers
— There are five different types of WBCs
1) Neutrophils
2) Eosinophils
3) Basophils
4) Lymphocytes
5) Monocytes
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Types of White Blood Cells
• Leukocytes can be divided into two groups.
1) Granulocytes
— Contain granules; inclusions in their cytoplasm
— Usually have lobulated or segmented nuclei
— Neutrophils
— Basophils
— Eosinophils
2) Agranulocytes
— Do not contain granules
— Do not have lobulated or segmented nuclei
— Monocytes
— Lymphocytes
Types of White Blood Cells
• Neutrophils (AKA: PMNs, Polys, Segs)
— Account for the highest amount of WBCs [~60%]
— Fight off bacterial invaders
— Fight off fungal invaders
— Take part in phagocytosis
•
Neutrophils look like…..
— Nucleus is divided into 2 to 5 segments and stains dark purple (multi-lobed nucleus)
— Cytoplasm is pale pink to tan with fine pink-purple granules
— 10-15 micrometers in diameter
—Mature form = segmented (segs); Nucleus has 2-5 lobes
— Immature form = band (bands); no segments in nucleus
— Bands are normal in the peripheral blood in low numbers 0-5%
• When did you see them?
— High numbers during bacterial infections and inflammation
Types of White Blood Cells
• Eosinophils (AKA: Eos)
— Fight off parasitic worm and flukes
— Important in allergic reactions
— ~ 3 % of WBCs in the blood
• Eosinophils look like…..
— Nucleus is divided into 2 segments
— Cytoplasm is pale pink to tan with large
orange and red granules
— 10-15 micrometers in diameter
• When did you see them?
— High numbers with parasitic infections
— Higher numbers in allergic reactions
Types of White Blood Cells
• Basophils
— Releases histamine in response to an allergic reaction
— Seen with inflammation
— Lowest number of WBCs in blood [<1%]
• Basophils look like…..
— Nucleus has 2 lobes that stains purple
and is difficult to see
— Cytoplasm is pale pink –tan but contains
large purple/blue-black granules
—10-15 micrometers in diameter
• When did you see them?
— High numbers during allergic reactions
— High numbers during inflammatory reactions
Types of White Blood Cells
• Monocyte
— Search for bacteria and viruses
— Participate in phagocytosis
— Largest of the white blood cells
— ~ 6 % of WBCs in the blood
•
Monocytes look like…..
— Singular nucleus (convoluted shape);
kidney shaped, bean shaped, or
horseshoe shaped with a deep indentation
— Stains a blue-gray color with
“ground glass” cytoplasm, tiny granules
— Vacuoles are sometimes present
— 12-20 micrometers in diameter
• When did you see them?
— High numbers during bacterial and viral infections
Types of White Blood Cells
• Lymphocyte
— Fight viral infections
— Some produce and secrete antibodies
— 2nd most common WBC in blood
— ~ 30 % of WBCs in the blood
•
Lymphocytes look like…..
— Large, dark staining nucleus, round or oval
— Little to no cytoplasm, blue in color
— Occasional purple-reddish granules
— About the size of a RBC
—8-15 micrometers in diameter
— Smallest nucleated cell in peripheral circulation
• When did you see them?
— High numbers during viral infections
— High and atypical form during infectious mononucleosis
Platelets
• Platelets (AKA: Thrombocytes or PLTs)
— Formed from the fragments of a megakaryocyte
— Not considered a WBC
— Function in hemostasis
— Platelets are found in the peripheral blood
—Megakaryocytes are found in the bone marrow
•
Platelets look like…..
— Small about 2-3 micrometers in diameter
— Fragments
— Stains bluish and usually contains small
reddish-purple granules
— Oval or round but can have spiny projections
—Normal is between 7-20 per field
Red Blood Cells
• Red Blood Cells (AKA: Erythrocytes of RBCs)
— Normal sized (oval or round) = called normocytic
— If the RBC color is normal = called normochromic