People these days are becoming dependent on what they see, like for instance in the aspect of media, video clips and photos are essential if you want your news to rouse the interest of your audience. In science, just before theories were proven, painstaking observation is first done by the scientist to prove the reality of his claim. Through observation they have delved deeper to matters, to the cells. They have even managed to conduct a blood cell observation with the help of microscopes.

Examining blood cells

Cells are the smallest unit of an organism; it is also the same matter that is contained in our blood, the reason why they are called blood cells. Probably there are several questions that immediately popped inside your mind, like what are these blood cells? How does it look like? What are its functions? And in the event that it has other types, how will I be able to distinguish one from the other? Stuffs like that, but those queries could only be answered by a thorough observation of the blood cells.

In general, blood cells are classified into platelets; the hematic cells under it are the leukocytes, erythrocytes and lastly are the lymphocytes. The erythrocytes have the most number inside our body, at an estimate they are around 6 millions/mm3. Moreover, they are also termed as red blood cells. Mammalians have red blood cells which is deficient of a nucleus, being the reason why there are more areas to accommodate the hemoglobin.

The platelets or the thrombocytes functions to hinder the deficit of blood due to our wounds. These platelets are responsible for dispersing elements which stimulate coagulation. The leukocytes or the white blood cells serve as the protection of the organism. In our blood, they are apparently less than in number compared to the red blood cells. Leukocytes are classified into two types: the lymphoid cells and the granulocytes.

Lastly the lymphocytes are the cells, which other than filling inside our blood, they also inhabit the lymphoid tissues and some other organs as well, they are also present in the lymphatic system where the lymph is circulating. Most of this type of cell inside our blood is on a resting phase, which appears to be tiny cells that are circular and dominates nearly the entire cellular capacity.

Blood cells under the microscope

The ideal magnification for one to be able to closely observe the blood cells is 200 times; this would allow you to examine every single type of cells that you can think of. In the event that you want to have a clearer perspective of the cell, all you have to do is to increase the strength of the microscope. In this method, you may study the specimen whether on a dry condition or on an oil immersed condition. In case, you have already decided to use oil, it is advised that you utilize a coverslip, over the specimen to give the specimen ample time to get set, otherwise, as soon as you relocate the slide chances are the oil would also move the coverslip.

Red blood cells have the size of 6,6-7,5 µm in diameter. The usual shape of this cell is cake that is pressed as the center, while observing it; it is most likely that you notice more red blood cells though there would be a few white blood cells as you observe it. When under the microscope, these cells are usually tainted in pink, at times it appears like a stacked up coins. Sometimes, they appear as described but due to diseases or sometimes improper placement they tend to have a different shape.

Platelets are not genuine cells; they gemmate from large leukocytes which are called megakaryocytes. Usually its shape is like mini diskettes around 3µm in diameter and becomes visible with a color purple and sometimes more powerful than the red blood cells.

Contrary to the red blood cells, the leukocytes are only visible under the microscope when the smear has been stained. Its nucleus usually presents several lobes or there are instances when it appears to be kidney-shaped. Typically, the nucleus of a particular leukocyte is distinct from one another making it easier to identify what type of cell is it.

This blood cell observation allows the scientist to determine what type of cell it is according to its nucleus and the various colors of its granules. These white blood cells have visible golgi apparatus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticula together with its ribosomes.