White Blood Cells

The scientific term leukocyte directly reflects this description, derived from Greek (white), and (cell). Blood plasma may sometimes be green if there are large amounts of neutrophils in the sample, due to the heme-containing enzyme myeloperoxidase that they produce.

There are several different types of white blood cells. They all have many things in common, but are all distinct in form and function. A major distinguishing feature of some leukocytes is the presence of granules; white blood cells are often characterized as granulocytes or agranulocytes:

Neutrophil

 Neutrophil granulocytes are generally referred to as either neutrophils or polymorphonuclear neutrophils (or PMNs. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cells in mammals and form an essential part of the innate immune system. Neutrophil, stain a neutral pink with H&E stain. Normally neutrophils contain a nucleus divided into 2-5 lobes.

 Neutrophils are normally found in the blood stream. During the beginning phase of inflammation, particularly as a result of bacterial Infection. They migrate through the blood vessels, then through interstitial tissue, following chemical signals such as (IL-8) in a process called chaemotaxis Neutrophils are recruited to the site of injury within minutes

 5470%[ 1012 Microns Multilobular nucleus. Faintly pink (H&E Stain) 6 hoursfew days

Eosinophil

 Eosinophil are responsible for combating multicellular parasitic infections.They also control mechanisms associated with allergy and asthma. They develop in the bone marrow before migrating into blood. These cells are eosinophilic or acid-loving' as shown by their affinity to coal and tar dyes. The staining is concentrated in small granules within the cellular cytoplasm, which contain many chemical mediators, such as histamine neutralising substances, acid phosphatase, aryl sulphatase and proteins such as eosinophilic peroxidase.

 In normal individuals, eosinophils make up about 1-6% of white blood cells, and are about 12-17 micrometers in size. The nucleus is bilobed or trilobed. The number of eosinophils in blood and tissues show a circadian rhythm. The number is gratest in the morning and least in the afternoon.

Basophil

 Basophil granulocytes, sometimes referred to as basophils, are the least common of the granulocytes, representing about 0.01% to 0.3% of circulating WBCs. The name comes from the fact that these leukocytes are basophilic. Basophils contain large cytoplasmic granules which obscure the nucleus. However, when unstained, the nucleus is visible and it usually has 2 lobes.

 <1% 1215 microns Bi-lobed nucleus. Large blue colour.

Lymphocyte

 Lymphocytes: A small WBC that plays a large role in defending the body against disease. Lymphocytes are responsible for immune responses. There are two main types of lymphocytes: B cells and T cells . The B cells make antibodies that attack bacteria and toxins while the T cells attack body cells themselves when they have been taken over by viruses or have become cancerous. B cells do not enter the thymus.

 Lymphocytes secrete products (lymphokines) that modulate the functional activities of many other types of cells and are often present at sites of Chronic inflammation 2233% 78 microns Single nucleus

Monocyte

Monocyte is a type of WBC and is part of the immune system Monocytes play multiple roles in immune function. Monocytes can move quickly (approx. 8-12 hours) to sites of infection in the tissues and divide/differentiate into macrophages and dendritic cells to elicit an immune response. Half of them are stored in the Spleen. Monocytes are usually identified in stained smears by their large kidney shaped or notched nucleus.

 Monocytes are produced by the bone marrow. Monocytes which migrate from the bloodstream to other tissues will then differentiate into tissue resident macrophages. Macrophages are responsible for protecting tissues from foreign substances but are also suspected to be the predominant cells involved in triggering atherosclerosis. They are cells that possess a large smooth nucleus, a large area of cytoplasm and many internal vesicles for processing foreign material.