Blood Smear - Slide 29 - May-Grunwald stain. Use the highest magnification to examine this smear of peripheral blood. Count 100-200 white blood cells to do a differential, and compare with data on p. 3. Scattered among the red blood corpsucles (erythrocytes) are numerous white blood cells (leukocytes). Identify neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes. Basophils are more difficult to find. Note also, clumps of thrombocytes (platelets). Which kinds of white cells are most numerous in blood? Why are they called "white cells"? Read about their characteristics and functions. Be able to recognize each type of blood cell in electron micrographs from your text and atlas.

Note: another commonly used name for neutrophil is polymorphonuclear leukocyte, or polymorph (or PMN for short). What is there about the shape of the cell's nucleus that makes this a reasonable name?

Another Note: The fluid plasma surrounding blood cells is important to their well being. What effect would you expect the hypertonicity or hypotonicity of the surrounding medium would have upon erythrocytes? What is meant by crenation? Hemolysis? What care must be taken when blood is withdrawn for laboratory examination?