The two types of white blood cells found in blood are granulocytes and agranulocytes. Leukocytes are another name for white blood cells. They are the first line of defence in the battle against disease. Granulocytes include eosinophils, neutrophils, and basophils. Agranulocytes are monocytes and lymphocytes. The most active phagocytes are neutrophils and monocytes, which engulf and eliminate invading infections. T and B lymphocytes are important in identifying antigens present in antigen-presenting cells in order to develop specific antibodies against a specific infection. Granulocytes and agranulocytes are distinguished by the presence of granular cytoplasm in granulocytes and the absence of granular cytoplasm in agranulocytes.
Granulocytes
Neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils are the three types of granulocytes. When dyed, the granules of these white blood cells can be observed under a microscope.
- Neutrophils : The nucleus of these cells is a multiple lobed nucleus. Neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cell in the body. They are attracted to bacteria chemically and move through tissue to infection locations. Neutrophils are phagocytic, which means they eat and kill target cells. Their granules act as lysosomes when released, digesting cellular macromolecules and killing the neutrophil in the process.
- Eosinophils : In blood smears, the nucleus of these cells is double-lobed and appears U-shaped. Eosinophils are commonly located in the stomach and intestines’ connective tissues. Antigen-antibody complexes generated when antibodies bind to antigens to signal that they should be eliminated are the primary focus of these phagocytic cells. During parasite infections and allergic reactions, eosinophils are at their most active.
Basophils : Heparin, an anticoagulant found in basophils, stops blood from clotting too quickly inside blood arteries. During asthma, the enzymes in their granules are also released. In comparison to other granulocytes, basophils are the least abundant in the blood. Basophils, on the other hand, are the largest granulocytes.