Monocyte
features
Nucleus:
Round, kidney shaped or lobulated
with fine lacey
chromatin
Cytoplasm:
Abundant blue-gray with occasional
azurophilic granules and ground-glass appearance
Time spent in peripheral blood:
12 hours
Functions:
Defense against microorganisms such
as fungi
Defense against tumor cells
Removal of old red blood cells,
damaged plasma proteins and lipids
Recycling of iron
Antigen presenting cell
Secretion of cytokines and CSF