Types of White Blood Cells

Question 1

Neutrophils

Answer 1

-Most numerous WBC (50-70%)
-Multi lobed nucleus
-Attracted to sites of inflammation
-First to arrive after initial injury; expandable cells
-Use phagocytosis bacteria

Question 2

Eosinophils

Answer 2

-2-4% of WBCs
-Two lobed nucleus
-Weakly phagocytic; kill invaders that are clumped together
-Use enzymes to digest parasitic worms (tapeworms, flukes)

Question 3

Basophils

Answer 3

-Rarest WBC (less than 1%)
-Release histamine: an inflammatory chemical that attracts other WBCs to the site of infection

Question 4

Lymphocytes

Answer 4

-25% of WBC
-2nd most numerous WBC
-Large nucleus that takes up most of the cell
-Found in the lymph nodes
-Two types: T cells and B cells

Question 5

Monocytes

Answer 5

-3-8% of WBCs
-Largest leukocytes
-U shaped nucleus
-Become macrophages: phagocytes that engulf viruses and other pathogens

Question 6

Natural killer cell (not a phagocyte)

Answer 6

-Can detect infected cells and cancerous cells due to changes in plasma proteins of the cells
-They secrete chemicals into the infected cells and kill them or puncture the infected cell’s membrane