Want information about white blood cells or leukocytes? Here is some information that you can find useful
We all know about blood gushing through our veins, but have we stopped to think what this very same blood is made of? Blood consists of Red Blood cells, White blood cells and platelets.
Introduction to Leukocytes
Leukocytes or White blood cells are those cells in your blood that have the responsibility of defending your body against infections and diseases. They not only fight infections but also guard the body against foreign objects like germs and bacteria. White blood cells and red blood cells are both produced from the stem cell of the bone marrow. There are more that 6000 white blood cells in every millimeter of blood in the body, which is equivalent to more than ½ million white blood cells in every drop of blood! The life expectancy of white blood cells in only 2 or 3 days, after which they die and destroyed by the other white blood cells in blood and replaced with new and fresh cells. Where the number of leukocytes in the blood increases, it is an indication of a disease or infection. Under normal conditions, there should be 4x109 and 11x109 white blood cells per liter or blood, which is equivalent to 1% of the healthy blood in the body. In case the body is suffering from leukemia, this count will be must higher and in case of leukopenia it will be much lower.
Composition of leukocytes
Leukocytes or White blood cells, as the name suggests are white or rather colorless. This is because they do not contain hemoglobin that is responsible for the red color in the red blood cells. They are rather asymmetrical in shape and consist of a nucleus, and much larger than red blood cells. These leukocytes can easily change their shape, which enable them to squeeze into walls of blood vessels and between other cells.
Types of Leukocytes
There are different types of leukocytes, though their most common classification is as per the presence of granules.
* Granulocytes – these are leukocytes that are commonly characterized by the presence of different granules in their cytoplasm. These types of leukocytes are responsible mainly for the digestion of endocytosed particles in the blood stream. There are three different type of Granulocytes: Neutrophils, Basophils and Eosinophils, these names are given according to their staining properties.
* Agranulocytes – these are leukocytes, which lack specific types of granules in the cytoplasm. There are two different types of Agranulocytes: Monocytes and Macrophages
Function of different types of leukocytes:
* Neutrophils – these types of leukocytes help in fighting and defending the body against infections of bacterial and fungal variety. They also play a part in minute inflammatory processes and also initially respond to microbial infections. Pus is formed in the body when these Neutrophils are active. These are also called polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
* Eosinophils – these are responsible for dealing with infections of the parasitic variety and an increase in these is the indication of such infections. Eosinophils are active in the body when the body is suffering from asthma, hay fever, hives and other parasitic infections.
* Basophils – the function of Basophils is to help the body fight against allergies and antigens, this is possible as they help in releasing chemical histamine.
* Monocytes – these leukocytes are the cleaners for Neutrophils. But other than that they are responsible for presenting the T cells with pathogens for their destruction.
* Macrophage – these are converted Monocytes that help in cleaning out the dead cells in the blood stream.
We all know about blood gushing through our veins, but have we stopped to think what this very same blood is made of? Blood consists of Red Blood cells, White blood cells and platelets.
Introduction to Leukocytes
Leukocytes or White blood cells are those cells in your blood that have the responsibility of defending your body against infections and diseases. They not only fight infections but also guard the body against foreign objects like germs and bacteria. White blood cells and red blood cells are both produced from the stem cell of the bone marrow. There are more that 6000 white blood cells in every millimeter of blood in the body, which is equivalent to more than ½ million white blood cells in every drop of blood! The life expectancy of white blood cells in only 2 or 3 days, after which they die and destroyed by the other white blood cells in blood and replaced with new and fresh cells. Where the number of leukocytes in the blood increases, it is an indication of a disease or infection. Under normal conditions, there should be 4x109 and 11x109 white blood cells per liter or blood, which is equivalent to 1% of the healthy blood in the body. In case the body is suffering from leukemia, this count will be must higher and in case of leukopenia it will be much lower.
Composition of leukocytes
Leukocytes or White blood cells, as the name suggests are white or rather colorless. This is because they do not contain hemoglobin that is responsible for the red color in the red blood cells. They are rather asymmetrical in shape and consist of a nucleus, and much larger than red blood cells. These leukocytes can easily change their shape, which enable them to squeeze into walls of blood vessels and between other cells.
Types of Leukocytes
There are different types of leukocytes, though their most common classification is as per the presence of granules.
* Granulocytes – these are leukocytes that are commonly characterized by the presence of different granules in their cytoplasm. These types of leukocytes are responsible mainly for the digestion of endocytosed particles in the blood stream. There are three different type of Granulocytes: Neutrophils, Basophils and Eosinophils, these names are given according to their staining properties.
* Agranulocytes – these are leukocytes, which lack specific types of granules in the cytoplasm. There are two different types of Agranulocytes: Monocytes and Macrophages
Function of different types of leukocytes:
* Neutrophils – these types of leukocytes help in fighting and defending the body against infections of bacterial and fungal variety. They also play a part in minute inflammatory processes and also initially respond to microbial infections. Pus is formed in the body when these Neutrophils are active. These are also called polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
* Eosinophils – these are responsible for dealing with infections of the parasitic variety and an increase in these is the indication of such infections. Eosinophils are active in the body when the body is suffering from asthma, hay fever, hives and other parasitic infections.
* Basophils – the function of Basophils is to help the body fight against allergies and antigens, this is possible as they help in releasing chemical histamine.
* Monocytes – these leukocytes are the cleaners for Neutrophils. But other than that they are responsible for presenting the T cells with pathogens for their destruction.
* Macrophage – these are converted Monocytes that help in cleaning out the dead cells in the blood stream.
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