White Blood Cells

The WBC's as they are commonly known are also called as Leukocytes or white cells or white corpuscles. White blood cells include neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes. They are a group of several cell types that occur in the bloodstream and are essential for a proper functioning of the immune system. Some white blood cells act as scavengers by engulfing foreign particles and destroying them. Others produce antibodies or destroy dead cells. They are normally produced in a bone marrow.

Types of White Blood Cells

There are many types of WBC's. The basic types are as follows….

1) Granulocytes: -
These are a category of white blood cells, characterized by the fact that all types have differently staining granules in their cytoplasm on light microscopy. These granules are related to lysosomes found in some regular cells and primarily act in the digestion of engulfed invaders. They are usually first responders to bacterial infection. Pus is formed because of their large amounts in death and activities. They are also responsible for dealing with parasitic infections.

2) Lymphocytes: -
They are commonly found in the lymphatic system and include the so called Killer T-cells. T cells are crucial to the immune response because they possess a unique 'memory' system which allows them to remember past invaders and prevent disease when a similar invader is encountered again by deploying the correct antibody. The T-cells and the natural killer cells are able to kill the cells of the body that are infected by virus.

3) Monocytes: -
These cells are also called as the vacuum cleaner and macrophages. They migrate from the blood stream and enter the tissue. The pathogens that entered before are recognized by these cells and are killed.

Diseases

Leucopenia is a disease symptom defined as a lower than normal number of white blood cells in the blood. Leukocytosis refers to an increase in the number of WBC's in the blood. Leukemia and Lymphoma are two types of cancer in which white blood cells multiply out of control.

Thus the white blood cells are very important to our body as they protect and build our immune system and also help fighting the infectious diseases.

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