This document discusses the key characteristics of four types of white blood cells (WBCs): neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils. Neutrophils have a segmented nucleus that stains dark purple and a coarse, clumped appearance. Lymphocytes are the smallest WBC with a smooth, round or oval nucleus and large, dark staining nucleus. Monocytes are the largest circulating WBC with an oval, indented, or horseshoe shaped nucleus. Eosinophils have a nucleus usually divided into two or three lobes that stains purple with bright reddish-orange granules.

1. GLOBE UNIVERSITY
Hematology Cell Book
Stephanie McCutcheon

2. Neutrophil
Nucleus is usually segmented into two to five lobes
Round to oval shaped
Nucleus stains a dark purple
Coarse clumped appearance
Twice the diameter of a red blood cell

3. Lymphocyte
Smallest of WBC
Nucleus has a smooth appearance, round or oval shaped
Large dark-staining nucleus
Stains purple

4. Monocyte
Largest circulating WBC
Nucleus can be oval, indented, or horseshoe shaped
Large Kidney shaped or notched nucleus
It may fold over on top of itself, showing brain like convolutions

5. Eosinophil
Nucleus is usually divided into two or three lobes
Stains purple
Granules stain bright reddish-orange (wright’s or Giemsa stains)
Chromatin is coarse and clumped

6. Basophil
Nucleus is segmented
stains light purple
Granules are unevenly distributed