WBC Abnormalities

• What are the two classifications of white blood cells (WBCs)?

  Phagocytes and immunocytes
• What are the types of phagocytes and immunocytes?

  • Phagocytes: Neutrophils, Monocytes
  • Immunocytes: B cells, T cells
• How can you identify WBCs on a smear under the microscope?

  By checking the nucleus and cytoplasm, particularly the granules
• What type of granules do eosinophils have?

  Red-orange granules
• What type of granules do basophils have?

  Darkly stained purplish granules
• What is the primary function of white blood cells?

  To remove unwanted materials in the system or blood
• Which WBCs are the first to reach tissue and destroy foreign materials?

  Neutrophils
• Why are neutrophils the most abundant WBC?

  Because they are the first responders to tissue infections
• Which WBCs are involved in hypersensitivity reactions?

  Basophils
• Which WBCs are involved in parasitic infections?

  Eosinophils
• What is the role of lymphocytes?

  Antibody production or cytotoxic activity
• What are monocytes also known as?

  Macrophages
• How do the locations of monocytes and macrophages differ?

  Monocytes are in the blood, while macrophages are in the tissues
• What are the primary lymphoid organs essential for B and T cell maturation?

  • Bone marrow
  • Thymus
• What is the major function of neutrophils?

  To respond rapidly to microbial invasion and kill invaders through phagocytosis
• What are the steps in phagocytosis?

  1. Chemotaxis
  2. Diapedesis
  3. Recognition and phagocytosis
  4. Degranulation
  5. Oxidative metabolism and bacterial killing
• What occurs during chemotaxis?

  WBCs move towards the site of infection due to chemical attractants
• What is diapedesis?

  WBCs leave blood vessels to reach the site of infection without causing damage
• What enhances adherence during phagocytosis?

  Opsonins
• What is the role of migration in phagocytosis?

  WBCs move to the site of infection
• What happens during recognition and phagocytosis?

  WBCs recognize and engulf pathogens, forming phagosomes
• What is degranulation in phagocytosis?

  Release of substances from granules to kill pathogens
• What is oxidative metabolism in phagocytosis?

  Process that generates reactive oxygen species to kill bacteria
• What are band cells or stab cells?

  Cells undergoing granulopoiesis, derived from metamyelocyte
• What does a left shift indicate in a blood smear?

  Increased release of precursors from the bone marrow
• What is the immediate precursor of neutrophils?

  Band cells
• What does a right shift indicate in a blood smear?

  Presence of hypersegmented polymorphonucleocytes
• What is hypersegmentation in neutrophils?

  More than 5 lobulations in the nucleus
• What can cause hypersegmentation of neutrophils?

  Megaloblastic state due to B12 or folic acid deficiency
• What are the two pools of WBCs in the circulatory system?

  • Marginating Pool: 50%; WBCs remain in circulation looking for inflammation
  • Circulating Pool: 50%; WBCs leave the bloodstream by random migration
• How long do neutrophils survive after entering tissues?

  1. 5 days
• What distinguishes nuclear abnormalities in neutrophils?

  • Number of lobulations (3-5 lobes)
  • Pelger-Huet anomaly: hyposegmentation
  • Hypersegmentation
• What is the Pelger-Huet anomaly?

  Failure of the nucleus to divide beyond the 2 lobe stage
• What are the characteristics of nuclei in Pelger-Huet anomaly?

  Round, oval, or bilobed with intense nuclear clumping
• What is the association of Pelger-Huet anomaly with drug use?

  Associated with prolonged use of chemotherapeutic drugs
• What is the Pseudo-Pelger-Huet anomaly?

  Acquired anomaly where the nucleus fails to divide
• What conditions can cause Pseudo-Pelger-Huet anomaly?

  High stress conditions like burns, drug reactions, malignancy
• What is hypersegmentation associated with?

  Megaloblastic anemia
• What are cytoplasmic abnormalities in WBCs?

  • Alder-Reilly granules
  • Auer rods
  • Chediak-Higashi granules
  • Dohle bodies
  • Toxic granules
• What are Alder-Reilly granules?

  Large black-purple coarse cytoplasmic granules