Normal White Blood Cell Count – What is a normal white blood cell count?

White blood cell is one of the components of blood or plasma. Blood is a circulating tissue. It is responsible in carrying nutrients and other vital elements to the different body tissues. Along with white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets compose blood. However, White blood cells are bigger than red blood cells and are normally fewer in number.

White blood cells

White blood cells or WBCs are produced in the bone marrow of large bones. They are also known as leukocytes. There are two types of white blood cells; namely, granulocytes and agranulocytes. Granulocytes are further of three types, neutrophil granulocytes, eosinophil granulocytes and basophil granulocytes. All granulocytes have different staining granules in their cytoplasm. On the contrary, agranulocytes do not have different staining granules in their cytoplasm. Agranulocytes are of two types of lymphocytes and monocytes. The primary function of all white blood cells is to help to defend the body from diseases and other foreign materials. Hence it helps in building the immune system of the body.

White blood cell count

White blood cell count is also known as Leukocyte count. Various tests are undertaken in order to find out the leukocyte count of an individual. The normal range of WBC count or leukocyte count is 4300 to 10800 cells per cubic millimeter (cmm). It is said that in an adult, one drop of blood contains 7000 to 25000 white blood cells.

Diseases involving leukocyte count

Leucopenia is a disease in which the white blood cell count is lower than the normal white blood cell count. Due to lower number of white blood cells in the blood, the body is unable to combat infectious diseases. This in turn hampers the immune system of the body. On the other hand, having a high leukocyte count too is not healthy. This kind of disease is known as leukocytosis. Cancer in white blood cells is known as leukemia and lymphoma. Leukemia may also lead to elevation or decrease in the white blood cell count. It is therefore, very important to have a balance leukocyte count.

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