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The Function Of The White Blood Cells

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Immune System And Disorders

A white blood cell, also known as a leukocyte or white corpuscle, is a cellular component of blood that does not contain hemoglobin, has a nucleus, is motile, and protects the body against infection and disease. White blood cells carry out their protective functions by ingesting foreign substances and cellular debris, destroying infectious agents and cancer cells, or producing antibodies. Although white blood cells are found in the bloodstream, most occur outside the circulation, in the tissues, where they fight infections; Some in the bloodstream are in transit from one site to another. White cells are highly differentiated for their specialized functions and do not undergo cell division (mitosis) in the bloodstream; However, some are capable of mitosis.

Based on their appearance under a light microscope, white cells are divided into three main classes—lymphocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes—each of which performs somewhat different functions. Lymphocytes, divided into B cells and T cells, are responsible for the specific recognition of foreign agents and their subsequent removal from the host. Granulocytes, the largest number of white cells, eliminate large pathogenic organisms from the body, such as protozoans or helminths, and are also key mediators of allergy and other forms of inflammation. Monocytes, which make up between 4 and 8 percent of the total number of white blood cells in the blood, migrate from the blood to sites of infection, where they become macrophages.

A healthy adult human has between 4,500 and 11,000 white blood cells per cubic millimeter of blood. Fluctuations in white cell count occur throughout the day; Low values ​​are obtained during rest and high values ​​during exercise. An abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells is called leukocytosis, while an abnormal decrease in the number is called leukopenia. The white blood cell count increases in response to certain disease states such as vigorous physical activity, seizures, intense emotional reactions, pain, pregnancy, childbirth, and infections and intoxication. The count may decrease in response to certain types of infections or medications, or in association with certain conditions such as chronic anemia, malnutrition, or anaphylaxis. Normally, the white blood cell count is high in newborns, which gradually drops to adult levels during childhood.

A white blood cell, also called a leukocyte or white corpuscle, is a cellular component of the blood that does not contain hemoglobin, contains a nucleus, is capable of motility, and protects the body against infection and disease by ingesting foreign substances and cellular debris to destroy infectious agents. and cancer cells, or by producing antibodies.

White Blood Cells Types And Their Functions

In adults, bone marrow produces 60 to 70 percent of white cells (ie, granulocytes). Lymphatic tissues, especially the thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes, produce lymphocytes (comprising 20 to 30 percent of white blood cells). The reticuloendothelial tissues of the spleen, liver, lymph nodes, and other organs produce monocytes (4 to 8 percent of white cells). A healthy adult human has between 4,500 and 11,000 white blood cells per cubic millimeter of blood. Fluctuations in white cell count occur throughout the day; Low values ​​are obtained during rest and high values ​​during exercise.

The survival of white blood cells, as living cells, depends on their continuous energy production. The chemical pathways used are more complex than those of red cells and are similar to those of other tissue cells. White blood cells, which contain a nucleus, can synthesize protein.

Although white blood cells are found in the bloodstream, most occur outside the circulation, in the tissues, where they fight infections; Some in the bloodstream are in transit from one site to another. As living organisms, their survival depends on their continuous production of energy. The chemical pathways used are more complex than those of red blood cells and are similar to those of other tissue cells. White blood cells that have a nucleus and can produce ribonucleic acid (RNA) can synthesize protein. White cells are highly differentiated for their specialized functions and do not undergo cell division (mitosis) in the bloodstream; However, some are capable of mitosis. Based on their appearance under a light microscope, white cells are divided into three main classes—lymphocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes—each of which performs somewhat different functions.

Lymphocytes, divided into B cells and T cells, are responsible for the specific recognition of foreign agents and their subsequent removal from the host. B lymphocytes secrete antibodies, which are proteins that bind to foreign microbes in the body’s tissues and mediate their destruction. Normally, T cells recognize and destroy virally infected or cancerous cells, or act as helper cells that aid in antibody production by B cells. Also included in this group are natural killer (NK) cells, named for their inherent ability to kill a variety of target cells. In a healthy person, 25 to 33 percent of white blood cells are lymphocytes.

White Blood Cells Function

Granulocytes, the largest number of white cells, eliminate large pathogenic organisms from the body, such as protozoans or helminths, and are also key mediators of allergy and other forms of inflammation. These cells contain numerous cytoplasmic granules or secretory vesicles that contain potent chemicals important in immune responses. They also have multilobed nuclei and because of this they are often called polymorphonuclear cells. Based on how their granules stain in the laboratory, granulocytes are divided into three categories: neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils. Most of the granulocytes are neutrophils, which make up 50 to 80 percent of all white cells. They are often one of the first cell types to arrive at a site of infection, where they engulf and destroy infectious microbes through a process called phagocytosis. Eosinophils and basophils, as well as tissue cells called mast cells, usually come next. Granules of basophils and closely related mast cells contain many chemicals, such as histamine and leukotrienes, that are important in triggering allergic inflammatory responses. Eosinophils destroy parasites and also help modulate inflammatory responses.

Monocytes, which make up between 4 and 8 percent of the total number of white blood cells in the blood, migrate from the blood to sites of infection, where they become macrophages. These cells are scavengers that phagocytose whole or killed microorganisms and are therefore effective in directly destroying pathogens and clearing cellular debris from sites of infection. Neutrophils and macrophages are the main phagocytic cells of the body, but macrophages are much larger and live longer than neutrophils. Some macrophages are antigen-presenting cells, phagocytose and degrade microorganisms, and present components of these organisms to T lymphocytes, thereby activating a specific acquired immune response. Stem cells in the bone marrow are responsible for producing white blood cells. Bone marrow stores 80-90% of white blood cells.

When an infection or inflammatory condition occurs, the body releases white blood cells to fight the infection.

Health professionals identify three main categories of white blood cells: granulocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes. The following sections discuss these in more detail.

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Granulocytes are white blood cells that contain small granules containing proteins. There are three types of granulocyte cells:

Monocytes are white blood cells that make up 2-8% of the total number of white blood cells in the body. These are present when the body is fighting chronic infections.

According to an article in American Family Physician, the normal range (per cubic millimeter) of white blood cells by age is:

When a person’s body produces more white blood cells than it should, doctors call it leukocytosis.

Types Of Macrophages

If a person’s body produces fewer white blood cells than it should, doctors call it leukopenia.

Doctors constantly monitor white blood cells to see if the body is mounting an immune response to an infection.

During a physical exam, a doctor may do a white blood cell (WBC) count using a blood test. They may order a WBC to test for or rule out other conditions that affect white blood cells.

Although a blood sample is the most common way to test for white blood cells, a doctor may also test other body fluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid, for the presence of white blood cells.

High White Blood Cell Count In The Elderly: Learn Today!

The following are conditions that affect how many white blood cells a person has in their body.

It is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system destroys healthy cells, including red and white blood cells.

White blood cell count

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