In this article we will describe the different types of blood cells.

 Blood is specialized
fluid connective tissue. It travels through the circulatory system transporting gases,
nutrients, wastes, and other macromolecules throughout the body. The main gases
traveling in the blood are oxygen and carbon dioxide. Circulating macromolecules
include hormones, nutrients, plasma proteins, and some humoral components of the
immune system. Blood also acts as a buffer to maintain homeostasis and partakes in
regulation of body temperature.

Introduction

Blood is made up of two main components: blood cells and plasma. The plasma, an
aqueous solution, is mostly made up of water but contains some important solutes.
About 7-8% of the plasma is made up of the proteins albumin, globulins, and
fibrinogen. Other solutes, only 1-2% of plasma, include electrolytes such as Na+ and
Ca+, urea and uric acid, glucose, lipids, hormones, and gases. Blood cells are
classified as either erythrocytes or leukocytes. Erythrocytes are commonly referred to
as red blood cells or RBCs. Leukocytes are white blood cells, or WBC. A smaller third
cellular constituent are the thrombocytes (platelets).

In routine laboratory testing, blood can be spun down in a centrifuge to separate the plasma
from the blood cells. Spinning down the cells reveals the hematocrit of the blood.
The hematocrit is a measure of the erythrocyte content of a blood sample. A normal reading
is between 39-50%. Males have a slightly higher hematocrit than females. Leukocytes and
platelets separate from the hematocrit and form a small buffy coat between the plasma and
erythrocytes.
Erythrocytes

Red blood cells

Erythrocytes, or red blood cells (RBCs), have predictable dimensions which makes them a
good “histologic ruler”. They are circular with a diameter of 7.8 micrometers. Erythrocytes
are shaped like biconcave discs (donut). At their perimeter they are 2.6 micrometers thick, at
the center they are only 0.8 micrometers thick. This shape increases the cell's surface area to
allow for more oxygen binding. Because these dimensions are typically consistent,
leukocytes can be identified by comparing their size to that of the erythrocytes.

The shape of erythrocytes depends largely on membrane proteins. Integral and peripheral
membrane proteins maintain the biconcave shape of erythrocytes. There are more integral
membrane proteins in the lipid bilayer than peripheral membrane proteins. They are classified
as either glycophorin or band 3 proteins. Band 3 proteins bind to hemoglobin and act as an
anchor for cytoskeletal proteins. Glycophorin proteins form the main attachments between
the lipid bilayer and the cytoskeleton.
Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is a globular protein found in erythrocytes. It is capable of binding and carrying

Oxygen binds to hemoglobin through positive cooperation. That is, once an oxygen ion binds
to a heme group, the iron atom is shifted in the ring which facilitates the binding of oxygen
ions to the remaining three heme groups. The erythrocytes can then transport oxygen from
the lungs to tissues throughout the body. There are approximately 250 million hemoglobin
proteins in each erythrocyte therefore one red blood cell can carry around one billion oxygen
ions at once.

Leukocytes

Leukocytes, also called White Blood Cells (WBCs), are associated with the immune
system. There are three main classifications of leukocytes: lymphocytes, granulocytes,
and agranulocytes. Granulocytes, as their name suggests, are white blood cells that
have granules present in their cytoplasm. Agranulocytes do not have these granules.
Using a  special histological staining method (Wright’s Stain), leukocytes can be seen
under a microscope. This stain includes azure B to stain the granules in the cytoplasm
of white blood cells so that they can be differentiated.

Leukocytes are classified by both the shape of their nuclei and the presence or
absence of azurophilic granules in their cytoplasm. Neutrophils, basophils, and
eosinophils are all polymorphonuclear granulocytes. Polymorphonuclear cells have
nuclei with multiple lobes. Monocytes and lymphocytes are mononuclear
agranulocytes. Mononuclear cells have a single nucleus. The buffy coat, seen when
blood is spun down in a centrifuge to separate its cellular components, is generally
made up of 60-70% neutrophils, 20-25% lymphocytes, 3-8% monocytes, 2-4%
eosinophils, and less than 1% basophils.

Neutrophils

Neutrophils make up over half of the volume of white blood cells. The cytoplasm stains
lightly and contains small, lavender colored granules. They are about 12-15 micrometers in
diameter and have dark-staining multilobed nuclei. There are three types of granules in the
cytoplasm of neutrophils: specific or secondary granules, azurophilic granules, and tertiary
granules.
Specific granules are the smallest and most numerous and contain several enzymes:
phospholipase and type IV collagenase. Azurophilic granules are the neutrophils’
lysosomes. There are two types of tertiary granules that contain either phosphatases or
metalloproteinases. Neutrophils are active phagocytes that engulf bacteria. They can
be considered the first responders of the (innate) immune system as they are often the
first leukocytes to be activated in response to a pathogen.

Lymphocytes

The large, rounded nucleus of a lymphocyte takes up most of the volume of the cell and
stains very dark blue. The cytoplasm appears as a narrow, lightly stained rim around
the large nucleus where it does not contain granules.
Lymphocytes, the main functional cells of the immune system, are further classified by
function and origin. For example, NK (natural killer) cells destroy virus infected and
cancerous cells, B lymphocytes are involved in the production of circulating antibodies,
and T lymphocytes are involved in cell-mediated immunity. Immunohistochemistry is
required to identify individual types of lymphocytes in microscopy.

Eosinophils

Eosinophils contain many brightly staining granules in their cytoplasm that give them a
characteristic pink color when viewed with a Wright’s stain. Their bilobed nuclei stain
lightly in comparison to the granules. Eosinophils are also about 12-15 micrometers in
diameter. Eosinophils release histaminase during  allergic reactions and are associated
with inflammatory responses and helminthic responses to parasitic and protozoan
infections.
Basophils

Basophils are the least abundant leukocytes in the blood; however, they are the
largest granulocyte. The cytoplasm of basophils contains many blue granules that
obscure the lightly stained bilobed nucleus. Basophils are associated with allergic
responses as well: they release histamine and vasoactive agents to dilate blood
vessels thereby intensifying the allergic reaction.

Monocytes

Monocytes are the largest leukocytes circulating in the blood at 12-20 micrometers in
diameter. They are agranulocytes with a light and foamy cytoplasm. Monocytes are
easily identified by their size and their large, kidney or horse-shoe shaped nucleus.
In the periphery, monocytes differentiate into phagocytic macrophages. Phagocytosis is
a process in which a cell engulfs and ingest a macromolecule or microorganism.
The macrophages differentiate further upon reaching their target tissues. Kupffer
cells are found in the liver. Alveolar macrophages are found in the lung. The red pulp of
the spleen contains splenic macrophages. Peritoneal macrophages are found free-
floating in peritoneal fluid. Microglial cells are specialized macrophages found in
the nervous system.
Thrombocytes, more commonly known as platelets, are small, formed elements found
throughout the blood. Because they do not contain a nucleus or organelles, they are
not considered to be true cells. Rather, they are cell fragments derived
from megakaryocytes, polyploid cells found in bone marrow. At only 2-4 micrometers in
diameter, they are significantly smaller than any other cellular structures in the blood.
Functionally, platelets are essential for forming clots in response to tears in blood
vessels.