Draw the different types of white blood cells and highlight their important key features which differentiate them from other cells.
(You may use their morphologic characteristics, clinical significance/disease correlation, and other characteristics as their point of
comparison)
White Blood Cells Characteristics Reference Functions Clinical Significance
Range
Neutrophils 10 to 12 µm diameter, 60–70% of Phagocytosis. Destruction of Increase: Bacterial infection,
nucleus has 2 to 5 lobes all WBCs bacteria with lysozyme, Burns, Stress, Inflammation
connected by thin defensins, and strong Decrease: Radiation Exposure,
strands of chromatin; oxidants, such as superoxide Drug Toxicity, Systemic Lupus
Cytoplasm has very fine, anion, hydrogen peroxide, Erythematosus
pale lilac granules and hypochlorite anion.
Eosinophils 10 to 12 µm diameter; 2–4% of all Combat effects of histamine in Increase: Allergic reactions,
Nucleus usually has 2 WBCs allergic reactions, phagocytize Parasitic infections,
lobes connected by thick antigen-antibody complexes, Autoimmune diseases
strand of chromatin; and destroy certain parasitic
Decrease: Drug toxicity, Stress,
large, red-orange worms.
Acute Allergic Reactions
granules fill cytoplasm
Basophils 8 to 10 µm diameter. 0.5–1% of Liberate heparin, histamine, Increase: Cancers, Allergic
Nucleus has 2 lobes; all WBCs and serotonin in allergic reactions, Leukemias,
Large cytoplasmic reactions that intensify overall Hypothyroidism
granules appear deep inflammatory response.
blue-purple Decrease: Pregnancy,
Ovulation, Stress,
Hypothyroidism
Lymphocytes Small lymphocytes are 6 20–25% of Mediate immune responses, Increase: Viral infections, Some
to 9 µm in diameter. all WBCs including antigen – antibody Leukemias, Infectious
Large lymphocytes are 10 reactions. B cells develop into mononucleosis
to 14 µm in diameter. plasma cells, which secrete
Nucleus is round or antibodies. T cells attack
slightly indented. invading viruses, cancer cells, Decrease: Prolonged illness,
Cytoplasm forms rim and transplanted tissue cells. HIV infection,
around nucleus that Natural killer cells attack wide Immunosuppression,
looks sky blue. The larger variety of infectious microbes Treatment with cortisol
the cell, the more and certain spontaneously
cytoplasm is visible. arising tumor cells.
Monocytes 12 to 20 µm diameter. 3–8% of all Phagocytosis (After Increase: Viral or fungal
Nucleus is kidney- or WBCs transforming into fixed or infections, tuberculosis,
horseshoe-shaped. wandering macrophages) some leukemias, other
Cytoplasm is blue gray chronic diseases
and appears foamy. Decrease: Bone marrow
suppression, treatment
with cortisol.
References:
Lotspeich-Steininger, C. A., Stiene-Martin, E.A., Keopke, J.A. (1992). Clinical Hematology Principles, Procedures, Correlations.
J.B. Lippincott Company. Pages 290 – 291.
Tortora, G.J., Derrickson, B. (2014). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology (14 th Edition). John Wiley & Sons. Pages 674 and
675.
(You may use their morphologic characteristics, clinical significance/disease correlation, and other characteristics as their point of
comparison)
White Blood Cells Characteristics Reference Functions Clinical Significance
Range
Neutrophils 10 to 12 µm diameter, 60–70% of Phagocytosis. Destruction of Increase: Bacterial infection,
nucleus has 2 to 5 lobes all WBCs bacteria with lysozyme, Burns, Stress, Inflammation
connected by thin defensins, and strong Decrease: Radiation Exposure,
strands of chromatin; oxidants, such as superoxide Drug Toxicity, Systemic Lupus
Cytoplasm has very fine, anion, hydrogen peroxide, Erythematosus
pale lilac granules and hypochlorite anion.
Eosinophils 10 to 12 µm diameter; 2–4% of all Combat effects of histamine in Increase: Allergic reactions,
Nucleus usually has 2 WBCs allergic reactions, phagocytize Parasitic infections,
lobes connected by thick antigen-antibody complexes, Autoimmune diseases
strand of chromatin; and destroy certain parasitic
Decrease: Drug toxicity, Stress,
large, red-orange worms.
Acute Allergic Reactions
granules fill cytoplasm
Basophils 8 to 10 µm diameter. 0.5–1% of Liberate heparin, histamine, Increase: Cancers, Allergic
Nucleus has 2 lobes; all WBCs and serotonin in allergic reactions, Leukemias,
Large cytoplasmic reactions that intensify overall Hypothyroidism
granules appear deep inflammatory response.
blue-purple Decrease: Pregnancy,
Ovulation, Stress,
Hypothyroidism
Lymphocytes Small lymphocytes are 6 20–25% of Mediate immune responses, Increase: Viral infections, Some
to 9 µm in diameter. all WBCs including antigen – antibody Leukemias, Infectious
Large lymphocytes are 10 reactions. B cells develop into mononucleosis
to 14 µm in diameter. plasma cells, which secrete
Nucleus is round or antibodies. T cells attack
slightly indented. invading viruses, cancer cells, Decrease: Prolonged illness,
Cytoplasm forms rim and transplanted tissue cells. HIV infection,
around nucleus that Natural killer cells attack wide Immunosuppression,
looks sky blue. The larger variety of infectious microbes Treatment with cortisol
the cell, the more and certain spontaneously
cytoplasm is visible. arising tumor cells.
Monocytes 12 to 20 µm diameter. 3–8% of all Phagocytosis (After Increase: Viral or fungal
Nucleus is kidney- or WBCs transforming into fixed or infections, tuberculosis,
horseshoe-shaped. wandering macrophages) some leukemias, other
Cytoplasm is blue gray chronic diseases
and appears foamy. Decrease: Bone marrow
suppression, treatment
with cortisol.
References:
Lotspeich-Steininger, C. A., Stiene-Martin, E.A., Keopke, J.A. (1992). Clinical Hematology Principles, Procedures, Correlations.
J.B. Lippincott Company. Pages 290 – 291.
Tortora, G.J., Derrickson, B. (2014). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology (14 th Edition). John Wiley & Sons. Pages 674 and
675.
