Week 9: Leukopoiesis WBC Series Flashcards
The myelocytic series matures into which cell type?
Neutrophils
Describe characteristics of myeloblast (Cell size, N/C ratio, nucleus, nucleoli, cytoplasm, granules…etc)
- Cell size = 12-20 microns
- N/C = 4:1
- Round-oval nucleus (built like fricking fridges)
- Central or eccentric nucleus
- Light red-purple fine meshwork chromatin with no aggregation
-Scanty basophilic cytoplasm - No granules
- May contain Auer rods
What do Auer rods in myeloblasts indicate?
Malignancy due to abnormally formed lysosomal granules
Describe characteristics of promyelocyte (Cell size, N/C ratio, nucleus, nucleoli, cytoplasm, granules…etc)
- Cell size: 15-23 microns
- N/C = 3:1
- Round-oval nucleus
- Central or eccentric nucleus
- Light red-purple fine meshwork chromatin, possibly slight aggregation at nuclear membrane
- 1-3 nucleoli
- Basophilic cytoplasm (might be more blue than blast)
- Key distinguishing trait: coarse azurophilic nonspecific, (bluish-black) primary granules
Describe characteristics of myelocyte (Cell size, N/C ratio, nucleus, nucleoli, cytoplasm, granules…etc)
- Cell size: 10-18 microns
- N/C = 2:1 or 1:1
- More round-oval nucleus
- Red-purple fine chromatin with slightly aggregated pattern
- May or may not have not have nucleoli
- Moderate bluish-pink cytoplasm
- Nonspecific (primary) and specific (secondary) granules
Describe characteristics of metamyelocyte (Cell size, N/C ratio, nucleus, nucleoli, cytoplasm, granules…etc)
- Cell size: 10-18 microns
- N/C ratio = 1:1
- Central or eccentric nucleus
- Key distinguishing trait: indented (kidney-shaped) nucleus
- Light blue-purple with chromatin clumps easily distinguishable
- No nucleoli
- Moderate bluish-pink cytoplasm (sometimes clear pink)
- Mostly specific (secondary) granules and few non-specific
Describe characteristics of band neutrophil (Cell size, N/C ratio, nucleus, nucleoli, cytoplasm, granules…etc)
- Cell size = 10-16 microns
- N/C ratio = 1:1
- Key distinguishing trait: Elongated narrow band shape of uniform thickness, singular lobe
- Deep blue-purple coarsely granular nuclear chromatin
- No nucleoli
- Abundant pink cytoplasm
- Fine violet-pink specific granules
Define leukemoid reaction
Transient, reactive condition characterized by moderate to severe increased WBC and left shift where immature granulocytes in blood. Associated with infection and physiological leukocytosis
Describe WBC malignancies
Malignant (cancerous) condition often characterized by moderate-to-severe increased WBC. May be accompanied by left shift. Associated with leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes
Describe characteristics of monoblasts (Cell size, N/C ratio, nucleus, nucleoli, cytoplasm, granules…etc)
- Cell size: 12-20 microns
- N/C ratio = 4:1
- Round-oval or slightly folded nucleus
- Central or eccentric nucleus
- Pale red-purple, minimal, fine thready chromatin
- 1-2 nucleoli
- Moderate basophilic cytoplasm
- No granules
- May have Auer rods
Describe characteristics of promonocytes (Cell size, N/C ratio, nucleus, nucleoili, cytoplasm, granules…etc)
- Cell size = 10-16 microns
- N/C ratio = 3:1 or 2:1
- Key distinguishing trait: Round nucleus with chromatin creases or cerebriform folding
- Central or eccentric nucleus
- Pale red-purple, very fine pattern, aerated network of threads
- 0-2 nucleoli
- Paler opaque, abundant gray-blue cytoplasm
- May see pseudopodia and vacuoles
Describe characteristics of monocytes (Cell size, N/C ratio, nucleus, nucleoli, cytoplasm, granules…etc)
- Cell size: 12-20 microns
- N/C ratio = 2:1 or 1:1
- Cerebriform or horseshoe shaped nucleus
- Central nucleus
- Blue-purple, fine reticular nuclear chromatin (less distinct parachromatin)
- 0-2 nucleoli
- Abundant pale gray-blue cytoplasm, may see pseudopodia and vacuoles
- More numerous fine (dust-like) red granules evenly dispersed
Where are macrophages found?
Two places:
- Free such as in sites of inflammation and repair (body fluids)
- Fixed such as tissue macrophages in specific sites (CNS microglial cells and liver Kupffer cells)
Describe characteristics of lymphoblast (Cell size, N/C ratio, nucleus, nucleoli, cytoplasm, granules…etc)
- Cell size: 10-20 microns
- N/C = 4:1
- Round or oval nucleus
- Central or eccentric nucleus
- Undifferentiated sparse red-purple chromatin
- 1-2 indistinct nucleoli
- Key distinguishing trait: Scanty, often nearly absent, clear basophilic cytoplasm
- No granules
Describe characteristics of prolymphocyte (Cell size, N/C ratio, nucleus, nucleoli, cytoplasm, granules…etc)
- Cell size: 9-18 microns
- N/C = 4:1, sometimes 3:1
- Round or oval and flat nucleus
- Combo of condensed/clumped blue-purple chromatin with red-purple parachromatin
- Key distinguish trait: 0-1 distinct nucleoli
- Often scanty, but visibly basophilic cytoplasm
- No granules
Describe characteristics of lymphocyte (Cell size, N/C ratio, nucleus, nucleoli, cytoplasm, granules…etc)
- Cell size: 7-18 microns
- N/C = 4:1, sometimes 3:1
- Round or indented nucleus
- Eccentric nucleus often with scanty cytoplasm
- Homogenous, coarse blue-purple nuclear chromatin (smudged)
- Nucleoli usually absent, rarely one seen in mature forms
- Light to dark blue cytoplasm (scanty to moderate)
- Occasionally a few azurophilic granules seen