Which description best fits basophil structure?

Which description best fits basophil structure?

• A. Cytoplasm packed with basophilic granules
• B. Nucleus not obviously multi-lobed
• C. Bi-lobed nuclei
• D. Large, pale granules

Answer: (A)

Basophils are granulocytes whose distinctive feature is the many large granules in the cytoplasm that stain darkly with basic dyes (basophilic). On a stained smear, these granules dominate the cell’s appearance, so the cytoplasm looks heavily granular and dark. The nucleus is usually lobed but often difficult to see because the granules accompany and partly obscure it, and descriptions focusing on the nucleus are less representative of what you predominantly observe. The granules themselves are not pale; they are the defining, visible attribute. That’s why the description “cytoplasm packed with basophilic granules” best fits basophil structure.

Basophils are granulocytes whose distinctive feature is the many large granules in the cytoplasm that stain darkly with basic dyes (basophilic). On a stained smear, these granules dominate the cell’s appearance, so the cytoplasm looks heavily granular and dark. The nucleus is usually lobed but often difficult to see because the granules accompany and partly obscure it, and descriptions focusing on the nucleus are less representative of what you predominantly observe. The granules themselves are not pale; they are the defining, visible attribute. That’s why the description “cytoplasm packed with basophilic granules” best fits basophil structure.