The chromatin is dense and clumped with distinct lighter areas of parachromatin. The term neutrophil refers to the cell type not to the degree of differentiation. The large orange granules of the eosinophil make the eosinophil the most readily recognizable cell in the blood. The purple-black, often large coarse irregularly sized granules of the basophil are chacteristic and may obscure the nucleus of this relatively uncommon cell. The mature nucleus is segmented into 2-3 lobes.
Basophils are active participants in hypersensitivity reactions.
The mature nucleus is segmented into 2-3 lobes. Monocytes have abundant blue-gray, sometimes very pale pink cytoplasm with small, generally indistinct, granules. One may see fine reddish granules of variable prominence. Occasionally, large azurophilic granules will be seen. Cytoplasmic vacuoles are often seen.