10.4: Monocytes

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: An image from a peripheral blood smear showing a monocyte in the center. 50x oil immersion.From MLS Collection, University of Alberta, https://doi.org/10.7939/R3Q52FV0F

: An image from a peripheral blood smear showing a monocyte in the top left corner (indicated with an arrow). 50x oil immersion. From MLS Collection, University of Alberta, https://doi.org/10.7939/R3FN1172B

: An image from a peripheral blood smear showing two monocytes (indicated by arrows) with prominent vacuoles. 60x oil immersion. From MLS Collection, University of Alberta, https://doi.org/10.7939/R3MG7GB06

Notes: Monocyte nuclear and cytoplasmic morphology can be highly variable.¹

Nucleus-to-Cytoplasm Ratio: Variable ²

Nucleoli: Not visible ²

Nucleus:^1,2

Variable shapes (Folds, kidney shaped)

Loose, lacy, violet chromatin

Cytoplasm:^1,2

Blue-gray cytoplasm (Ground glass appearance due to fine, diffuse granules)

May have pseudopods

May have vacuoles

Normal % in Bone Marrow: 2%²

Normal % in Peripheral Blood: 3-11%²

References:

1. Landis-Piwowar K. Granulocytes and Monocytes. In: Clinical laboratory hematology. 3rd ed. New Jersey: Pearson; 2015. p. 97-121.

2. Rodak BF, Carr JH. Monocyte maturation. In: Clinical hematology atlas. 5th ed. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Inc.; 2017. p. 55-64.