Name that WBC
This granulocyte is hard to miss with its large orange-red granules and usually bilobed nucleus.
What is an eosinophil?
These RBCs are smaller than normal.
What is microcytosis?
They're tiny, purple, and not actually complete cells.
What are platelets?
A has orange-red granules. B has dark blue-purple granules that may obscure the nucleus. Identify A and B.
A: eosinophil B: basophil
I am a granulocyte.
My nucleus has multiple lobes.
My cytoplasm contains fine, pale granules.
I am the most common WBC in normal peripheral blood.
What is a segmented neutrophil?
This is normally the most numerous WBC in peripheral blood and has a multilobed nucleus.
What is a segmented neutrophil?
These RBCs have an increased area of central pallor.
What is hypochromia?
The blue network seen in these young RBCs represents residual RNA.
What are reticulocytes?
One has a round, dense nucleus and scant cytoplasm. The other is larger with abundant gray-blue cytoplasm and a folded nucleus. Identify both.
Lymphocyte, monocyte
I am usually a small cell.
My nucleus is round and takes up most of me.
My chromatin is dense.
I usually have only a small rim of blue cytoplasm.
What is a lymphocyte?
My dark blue-purple granules may partially obscure my nucleus.
What is a basophil?
Bull's-eye appearance gives these RBCs their name.
What are target cells (codocytes)?
Don't mistake me for a lymphocyte. I'm an immature red blood cell that still has a nucleus.
What is a nucleated RBC?
One population is smaller than normal; the other is larger than normal. Identify A and B.
Microcyte, macrocyte
I'm large.
I have abundant gray-blue cytoplasm.
My nucleus may look folded, indented, or kidney-shaped.
My chromatin is less condensed than a lymphocyte's.
What is a monocyte?
I have a round, densely staining nucleus with only a thin rim of blue cytoplasm.
What is a lymphocyte?
These round, dense RBCs lack the normal central pallor.
What are spherocytes?
This small, round, dark-purple RBC inclusion is a remnant of nuclear DNA.
What is a Howell-Jolly body?
One RBC contains a single round nuclear remnant; the other contains clustered iron-containing granules. Identify both inclusions.
Howell-Jolly body, Pappenheimer bodies
I'm an RBC, but something about my size is different.
Look at the lymphocyte nucleus for comparison.
I'm noticeably larger than a normal RBC.
What is a macrocyte?
I am usually the largest normal WBC in peripheral blood. My nucleus may be folded or kidney-shaped, and my cytoplasm is abundant and gray-blue.
What is a monocyte?
These irregular RBC fragments result from red cells being mechanically damaged.
What are schistocytes?
This needle-like reddish-purple cytoplasmic inclusion is found in myeloid blasts.
What is an Auer rod?
These two can fool you. Which is the WBC and which is an immature RBC?
Lymphocyte, NRBC
I'm not a cell.
I'm something you may see while examining a peripheral smear.
I can interfere with what you're trying to identify.
Moisture during slide preparation or staining can help create me.
Don't mistake me for abnormal RBC morphology.
What is a water artifact?