In general, the blood count must be calculated.leukocyte formula, that is, the percentage of different classes of leukocytes in the blood. Most of the leukocytes in an adult in the formula are segmented neutrophils (about 70%). They are their main part.
Leukocytes are divided into two main rows:granulocytes (granular) and agranulocytes (non-granular). Granulocytes, in turn, are divided into neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils. Each cell type has a specific granularity in the cytoplasm and performs its own specific functions.
All granulocyte cells in their developmentundergo a developmental stage from myeloblast, through a series of intermediate immature cells, to stab and segmented leukocytes. This applies to all three types of granulocytes - to neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils. In normal peripheral blood, only staple and segmented neutrophils can be found. Younger cells enter the blood from the bone marrow only for serious diseases.
Band and segmented neutrophilsdiffer in the shape of the cell nucleus. The first core is smooth, similar to a curved wand. In the second, the core is divided by special constrictions into several (2-4) segments. The cytoplasm of the cells is colored pink. It has a fine brown grain. In infectious diseases, the neutrophil granularity becomes larger and blue (the so-called toxigenic granularity). This is one of the signs of the inflammatory process.
The function that the band andsegmented neutrophils in the body, is to protect against foreign particles, viruses, fungi and bacteria. Granulocytes possess phagocytic activity. Their granules contain a specific enzyme myeloperoxidase, it enhances the action of antibacterial substances. Neutrophils can actively move to the focus of inflammation.
The ratio of segmented neutrophils and othercells in the leukocyte formula meets age norms. So, in children under 5 years old lymphocytes predominate, and neutrophils have no more than 30%. The number of stab neutrophils is normally 1-6%. An increase in the number of neutrophils accompanies various diseases and is called neutrophilia.
Neutrophilia usually accompanies a general increaseleukocyte numbers. At the same time, neutrophils are stab-enhanced too. Sometimes in the blood of severe diseases appear immature cells - metamyelocytes (young) and myelocytes. The increase in the number of stab cells, the appearance of metamyelocytes and myelocytes is called the shift of the leukocyte formula to the left. Often, the shift of the formula is combined with the appearance of toxigenic grit in the stab and segmented neutrophils and the basophilia of their cytoplasm.
Such neutrophil changes accompany acuteinflammatory diseases, shock conditions, heart attack, various intoxications. Especially pronounced shift of the formula to the left in chronic myelocytic leukemia. In this disease, segmented neutrophils decrease sharply both in percentage and in absolute terms. In the formula dominated stab and immature cells. The decrease in the number of segmented neutrophils leads to a decrease in the protective function of leukocytes. It threatens with the addition of various infections.
Segmented reduction as wellstab neutrophils are called neutropenia. It is usually observed against the background of a general decrease in leukocytes. This condition occurs in chronic and viral infections, often after administration of cytostatics, after radiation therapy, and in blood diseases such as agranulocytosis or aplastic anemia.
Thus, the role of segmented neutrophilsis to protect people from infections. In diseases, their number compensatory increases. This is reflected in a change in the ratio of cells in the blood formula.
