57 Plasma Cells
Michelle To and Valentin Villatoro
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- An image from a bone marrow smear showing a plasma cell. Note the perinuclear clearing surrounding the nucleus. 100z oil immersion. From MLS Collection, University of Alberta, https://doi.org/10.7939/R30C4T111
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- An image from a bone marrow smear with a plasma cell (indicated by an arrow). 100x oil immersion. From MLS Collection, University of Alberta, https://doi.org/10.7939/R3JM23X5J
Notes: The maturation of a lymphocyte to a plasma cell marks the production of immunoglobulins. Lymphocytes that mature into plasma cells are of B lineage.1
Nucleus-to-Cytoplasm Ratio: 2:1 to 1:1 2
Nucleoli: None 1,2
Nucleus:1,2
Round or oval
Eccentrically located
Coarse, clumpy, dark purple staining chromatin
Cytoplasm:1,2
Abundant
Darkly basophilic
Perinuclear (clear) zone may be seen around the nucleus (Representing the golgi body)
Vacuoles may be present
Normal % in Bone Marrow: 0-1% 1,2
Normal % in Peripheral Blood: 0% 1,2
References:
1. Williams L, Finnegan K. Lymphocytes. In: Clinical laboratory hematology. 3rd ed. New Jersey: Pearson; 2015. p. 122-43.
2. Rodak BF, Carr JH. Lymphocyte maturation. In: Clinical hematology atlas. 5th ed. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Inc.; 2017. p. 79-88.
