Recognise and draw red blood cells, monocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes from microscope slides, photomicrographs and electron micrographs

Sourav PanOctober 29, 2024

Answered

Here’s a guide on how to recognize and draw red blood cells, monocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes, along with their distinguishing features from microscope slides, photomicrographs, and electron micrographs.

1. Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes)

• Appearance:
  • Biconcave discs without a nucleus (anucleate).
  • The cytoplasm appears pinkish-red due to hemoglobin.
  • Generally smaller in size (about 7-8 micrometers in diameter).
• Drawing Tips:
  • Draw a smooth, round shape with a slight indentation on both sides (biconcave).
  • Shade the center lightly to indicate the hemoglobin content.

2. Monocytes

• Appearance:
  • Largest white blood cells (15-20 micrometers in diameter).
  • Kidney-shaped or horseshoe-shaped nucleus.
  • Cytoplasm is abundant and appears pale blue, often with a frothy or granular texture.
• Drawing Tips:
  • Draw a large cell with a prominent, irregularly shaped nucleus.
  • Include the pale blue cytoplasm around the nucleus, indicating its larger size.

3. Neutrophils

• Appearance:
  • Medium-sized white blood cells (10-15 micrometers in diameter).
  • Multi-lobed nucleus (usually 2-5 lobes connected by thin strands).
  • Cytoplasm is light pink and contains fine granules that may appear violet.
• Drawing Tips:
  • Draw a cell with a segmented nucleus and several lobes.
  • Represent the granules in the cytoplasm using small dots, coloring them lightly to suggest granularity.

4. Lymphocytes

• Appearance:
  • Small to medium-sized white blood cells (6-15 micrometers in diameter).
  • Large, round nucleus that occupies most of the cell, leaving a thin rim of cytoplasm.
  • Cytoplasm is basophilic (stains blue) and may have a few small granules.
• Drawing Tips:
  • Draw a small cell with a very large, round nucleus.
  • Indicate a thin halo of cytoplasm around the nucleus, keeping the details minimal.

Drawing Summary

When drawing these cells:

• Use appropriate proportions based on their sizes relative to each other.
• Include labels for each cell type, pointing out key features such as the nucleus shape, size, and cytoplasmic characteristics.
• Use different colors (if applicable) to indicate the cytoplasm and nuclei to help with identification.