• Granulocytes are a category of white blood cells

characterised by the presence of granules in their

cytoplasm.
• They are also called polymorphonuclear leukocytes
(PMN or PML) because of the varying shapes of the
nucleus, which is usually lobed into three segments. In
common parlance, the term polymorphonuclear
leukocyte often refers specifically to neutrophil
granulocytes, the most abundant of the granulocytes.
• Granulocytes or PMN are released from the bone
marrow by the regulatory complement proteins.
Eosinophil
Neutrophil

Granulocytes

Basophil
Granulocytes
• Segmented nuclei 2 - 7 lobes connecting by thin
strands of nucleoplasm
• Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN Ls)
• Specific granules +
a. Neutrophils
• 60 – 70%
• Also found outside the blood
stream
• Cellular defense against the
invasion of bacteria
active phagocytes
• diameter 12 μm
• Nucleus condensed chromatin,
2 – 5 lobes
• Function: Phagocytize bacteria
b. Eosinophils
• 1 – 4%
• Leave the blood stream diapedesis
• Phagocytic
• Eosinophils increased (allergic reaction or parasitic infection)
Decreased response to treatment with exogenous
corticosteroids
• Size Φ 9 μm
• Function: Kill parasitic worms; inactive some inflammatory
chemical of allergy
• Nucleus
-Two lobes, condensed chromatin
-Often obscured by the numerous specific granules

• Cytoplasm : Eosinophilic granules ++ (0.5 –

1.5 μm) contains peroxidase,
acid phosphotase, arginine rich
major basic protein
c. Basophils
• 0 – 1%
• May leave the circulation, limited amoeboid
movement and phagocytosis
• Size 10 – 12 μm
• Nucleus : Condensed chromatin, 3 lobes twisted into
an shape often obscured by the large dark staining
granules
• Cytoplasm :
a. Specific granules : irregular shape,
vary in size, reddish-violet to black,
contain heparin and histamine
b. Azurophilic granules
• Function:Release histamine and other mediators of
inflammation; contain heparin,an anticoagulant.