Description:

Cell oval or round in shape and smaller than the myelocyte. Metamyelocyte divides no more but only matures into a non-segmented granulocyte.
Morphologically they can be classified as neutrophilic, eosinophilic and basophilic metamyelocytes.

Size:

12-18 µm.

Cytoplasm:

The layer of the cytoplasm surrounding the nucleus increases, and nucleocytoplasmatic ratio decreases (15:1). The cytoplasm is stained pink and contains numerous granules. It is neutrophilic, eosinophilic, and basophilic.

• The cytoplasm of neutrophilic metamyelocytes is colorless or slightly acidophilic and contains secondary neutrophilic granules.
• The cytoplasm of eosinophilic metamyelocytes is slightly acidophilic and contains secondary eosinophilic granules.
• The cytoplasm of basophilic metamyelocytes contains characteristic basophilic granules.

Nucleus:

Smaller and slightly indented. The shape of the nucleus is kidney-bean or a bent rod. The convexity is usually at the edge of the cell. The nucleus has a dense chromatin with numerous dark blocks sharply circumscribed and much more evident than in the myelocyte.

Nucleoli:

Absent.