White Blood Cells

Question 1

What are the two main types of white blood cells?

Answer 1

Granular (granulocytes) and agranular (agranulocytes) leukocytes.

Question 2

Which leukocytes are considered granulocytes?

Answer 2

Neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils.

Question 3

What is the most abundant white blood cell?

Answer 3

Neutrophils (50–70% of WBCs).

Question 4

What is another name for neutrophils?

Answer 4

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Question 5

What is the function of neutrophils?

Answer 5

First responders to infection; perform phagocytosis and release digestive enzymes and defensins.

Question 6

What do eosinophils look like?

Answer 6

Bi-lobed nucleus with red-orange granules.

Question 7

What is the function of eosinophils?

Answer 7

Combat parasites, modulate allergic responses, and phagocytize antigen-antibody complexes.

Question 8

What is the function of basophils?

Answer 8

Release histamine, heparin, and serotonin during inflammatory and allergic responses.

Question 9

Which granulocyte is least abundant?

Answer 9

Basophils (<1% of WBCs).

Question 10

Which cells are agranulocytes?

Answer 10

Lymphocytes and monocytes.

Question 11

What are the three types of lymphocytes?

Answer 11

T cells, B cells, and NK (natural killer) cells.

Question 12

What is the role of B lymphocytes?

Answer 12

Produce antibodies during antibody-mediated immunity.

Question 13

What is the role of T lymphocytes?

Answer 13

Involved in cell-mediated immunity; attack infected and abnormal cells.

Question 14

What is the role of NK cells?

Answer 14

Provide generalized, nonspecific immunity; attack infected or cancerous cells.

Question 15

What percentage of WBCs are lymphocytes?

Answer 15

About 20–30%.

Question 16

What is the role of monocytes?

Answer 16

Phagocytosis; differentiate into macrophages and dendritic cells in tissues.

Question 17

What is the size and shape of a monocyte?

Answer 17

Largest WBC, with a horseshoe-shaped nucleus.

Question 18

What percentage of WBCs are monocytes?

Answer 18

About 2–8%.

Question 19

What are agglutinogens?

Answer 19

Antigens on the surface of red blood cells.

Question 20

What are agglutinins?

Answer 20

Antibodies in plasma that react against foreign RBC antigens.

Question 21

What is agglutination?

Answer 21

Clumping of RBCs when incompatible blood types mix.

Question 22

What is hemolysis?

Answer 22

Destruction of RBCs and release of hemoglobin.

Question 23

What are the major antigens in the ABO system?

Answer 23

A and B antigens.

Question 24

Which blood type has no A or B antigens?

Answer 24

Type O.

Question 25

Which blood type has no anti-A or anti-B antibodies?

Answer 25

Type AB.

Question 26

Which blood type is the universal donor?

Answer 26

Type O.

Question 27

Which blood type is the universal recipient?

Answer 27

Type AB.

Question 28

What is the Rh factor?

Answer 28

An antigen on RBCs; presence = Rh+, absence = Rh−.

Question 29

What is hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN)?

Answer 29

Condition caused by Rh incompatibility between mother and fetus.