Formed elements of blood

(azure II and eosin)

This cell table presents formed elements that can be found in blood smears and identified considering:

• their size
• presence of nuclei and their shape
• cytoplasm staining
• presence of granules, their size and staining

Red blood cells have no nuclei, their cytoplasm is oxyphilic, and they are most numerous in blood smears

Platelets are the smallest elements with no nuclei; they often stick together into agglomerations in blood smears

White blood cells comprise nuclei:

• granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils) contain band-shaped nuclei that are usually segmented; the cytoplasm includes specific granules
• agranulocytes (lymphocytes, monocytes) contain either rounded, bean-shaped, or horseshoe-like nuclei that are not segmented; there are no specific granules