AAEVT's Equine Manual for Veterinary Technicians by Deborah Reeder & Sheri Miller & DeeAnn Wilfong & Midge Leitch & Dana Zimmel

Author:Deborah Reeder & Sheri Miller & DeeAnn Wilfong & Midge Leitch & Dana Zimmel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2012-08-01T16:00:00+00:00

Figure 8.4. (A) Anisocytosis and (B) Heinz bodies.

Courtesy of IDEXX and Dr. Dennis DeNicola.

White Blood Cells

White blood cells, or leukocytes, are cells of the immune system, which defend the body against infectious disease and foreign materials. Several different and diverse types of leukocytes exist, all of which are produced from a pluripotent cell in the bone marrow known as the hematopoietic stem cell. Leukocytes are found throughout the body including the blood and lymphatic system. One of the primary techniques used to identify the different types of leukocytes is to look for the presence of granules, resulting in the differentiation of cells into those containing granules (granulocytes) and those lacking granules (agranulocytes).

Granulocytes are leukocytes characterized by the presence of differently staining granules within their cytoplasm when viewed under light microscopy. These granules are membrane-bound enzymes that function primarily in the digestion of endocytosed or engulfed particles. There are three types of granulocytes named according to their specific staining properties: neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils. Agranulocytes are white blood cells lacking granules and include lymphocytes, monocytes, and macrophages.

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