Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Weird Words of the Week: Neutrophil, Eosinophil, Basophil, Lymphocyte, and Monocyte

When Madame L was reading about thalassemia last week, she chanced upon a great website with information about all kinds of blood cells.

Madame L was particularly fascinated to learn about five types of white blood cells (leukocytes), and has pasted images of them below. (Madame L hopes you'll want to read the whole article.)

     Each type of leukocyte is present in the blood in different proportions:
     neutrophil 50 - 70 %
     eosinophil 2 - 4 %
     basophil 0,5 - 1 %
     lymphocyte 20 - 40 %
     monocyte 3 - 8 %


Neutrophils are very active in phagocyting bacteria and are present in large amount in the pus of wounds.
 
Eosinophils attack parasites and phagocyte antigen-antibody complexes.

Basophils secrete anti-coagulant and vasodilatory substances as histamines and serotonin.
Lymphocytes are cells which, besides being present in the blood, populate the lymphoid tissues and organs too, as well as the lymph circulating in the lymphatic vessel.



Monocytes are the precursors of macrophages. They are larger blood cells, which after attaining maturity in the bone marrow, enter the blood circulation where they stay for 24-36 hours.

1 comment:

AskTheGeologist said...

I would cyte my cousin Phil: "There's filthy leucour in that boil." My cousin Basil won't let me cyte him. He has a lymph wrist, but he's monogamous.
~~~~~