Page 123 - Essential Haematology

Chapter 8 White cells: Granulocytes and monocytes / 109

The white blood cells (leucocytes) may be divided comprise the phagocytes. Their normal develop-

into two broad groups: the phagocytes and the ment and function, and benign disorders are dealt
immunocytes. Granulocytes, which include three with in this chapter. Only mature phagocytic cells
types of cell – neutrophils (polymorphs), eosi- and lymphocytes are found in normal peripheral

nophils and basophils – together with monocytes blood (Table 8.1 ; Fig. 8.1 ). The lymphocytes, their

Table 8.1 White cells: normal blood counts.

Adults Blood count Children Blood count
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Total leucocytes 4.00 – 11.0 × 10 /L * Total leucocytes
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9

Neutrophils 2.5 – 7.5 × 10 /L * Neonates 10.0 – 25.0 × 10 /L
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9
Eosinophils 0.04 – 0.4 × 10 /L 1 year 6.0 – 18.0 × 10 /L

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9
Monocytes 0.2 – 0.8 × 10 /L 4 – 7 years 6.0 – 15.0 × 10 /L

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Basophils 0.01 – 0.1 × 10 /L 8 – 12 years 4.5 – 13.5 × 10 /L
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Lymphocytes 1.5 – 3.5 × 10 /L

* Normal black and Middle Eastern subjects may have lower counts. In normal pregnancy the upper limits are: total

leucocytes 14.5 × 10 /L, neutrophils 11 × 10 /L.
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(a) (b) (c)

(d) (e)

Figure 8.1 White blood cells (leucocytes): (a) neutrophil (polymorph); (b) eosinophil; (c) basophil; (d) mono-

cyte; (e) lymphocyte.