Final answer:
Pyknosis indicates a condensed cell nucleus, often associated with the process of apoptosis or programmed cell death, resulting in the nucleus becoming shrunken and dark.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pyknosis indicates c. a condensed cell nucleus.
Pyknosis refers to the condensation of the nucleus in a cell, which often is a sign of apoptosis or programmed cell death. This process results in the nucleus becoming shrunken and dark due to the chromatin condensing. It is distinct from a cell containing a lysed or damaged nucleus, which typically suggests necrosis rather than the orderly process of apoptosis.
The description provided for neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils demonstrates normal granular leukocyte characteristics, such as the number of lobes in a nucleus and the appearance of granules. Pyknosis, however, is a change observed in the nucleus when a cell is undergoing pathological conditions or natural cell death.