The structure of dispersed liquid crystal droplets elasticity, surface tension, and surface anchoring. For sufficiently large droplets with radius R K / W a, where K is the bulk elastic constant and W a is the anchoring coefficient, the surface terms prevail. As a result, the equilibrium states of large droplets contain topologically stable defects. Application of topological theorems to and hedgehogs is reviewed. is controlled by a balance of the bulk defect structures, e.g. monopoles, boojums