white blood cells are the cells of our immune system that are involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders that try to heart our body. They are also known as leukocytes or leucocytes.
Types Of White Blood Cells
There are five main types of white blood cells
1) Monocytes
2) lymphosytes
3) Neutrophils
4) Basophils
5) Eosinophils
Each of them have different functions and purpose in our immune system.
Each of them have different functions and purpose in our immune system.
The function of Monocytes our body is to help our immune system break down bacteria's and other harmful organisms.
A lymphosytes main function is to create antibodies to defend against viruses, microbes, bacteria and any other micro-organism that's harmful to our body.
Neutrophils protect our body by killing and digesting all the bacteria and fungus in our body.
Basophils don't go against harmful organisms head on, instead they sound an alarm to other white blood cells when infectious bacteria enter our blood.
The main function of Eosinophils is to kill and destroy cancer cells/ parasites.
Lymphocytes
They create antibodies which are made out of proteins. invading cells have antigens on their surface and these antibodies stick to the antigens and suffocate them. once all the antigens are dead the cell loses its identity and dies too.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes engulf and absorb invading cells, if the cell is bigger than them there is a chance they might explode as well.
White Blood Cell Count
A White blood cell count is a blood test the allows doctors to find out the number of WBCs in a person's body.
The test is pretty simple, the doctors will draw some blood from the vein inside your elbow and its later sent to the lab to be researched and your test result is given to you in a matter of weeks.
The test is pretty simple, the doctors will draw some blood from the vein inside your elbow and its later sent to the lab to be researched and your test result is given to you in a matter of weeks.
An Average Person should have 4500-10000 Million WBCs per litter, some of the drugs that might effect the test results are quinidine, heparin, antibiotics, antihistamines and anti-convulsants because they all increase the number of WBCs in our body so its better to not take any of them a few days prior to the test or at least inform the doctor before taking the test.
If your result is below average its referred to as Leukopenia and might be due to:
- HIV
- bone marrow disorder
- lymphoma
- severe infections
- Liver disease
- Radiation Treatments
- Anemia
- Tumors in the bone marrow
- Stress
- Tissue damage
- Pregnancy
- Allergies
- Asthma
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Questions
1) What is the scientific name for White Blood Cells?
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2) What is the main function lymphocytes?
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3) Name 3 Types of White Blood Cells and explain their function
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4) How is the WBC Count test preformed?
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5) What is the Scientific term for people who have a low WBC Count?
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