Note the large bi-lobed nucleus of the monocyte.
The smaller purple cell fragments are platelets.
Macrophages are leukocytes (white blood cells) which are present in all tissues of the body. Macrophages develop from bone marrow precursors which mature and enter the bloodstream as monocytes.
| This
stained blood smear shows a blood monocyte staining purple and
red blood cells staining pink. Note the large bi-lobed nucleus of the monocyte. The smaller purple cell fragments are platelets. |
|
Monocytes are recruited into different tissues
where they differentiate into tissue resident
macrophages which perform important functions in tissue homeostasis
and the immune response.