White Blood Cells (WBC) - also called 

leukocyte or white corpuscle, a cellular component of

the blood that lacks hemoglobin, has a nucleus, is capable of motility, and defends the body
agaainst infection anddisease by ingesting foreign materials and cellular debris, by destroying
infectious agents and cancercells, or by producing antibodies. They are divided
into Granulocytes (having visible granules or grains inside the cells) and Agranulocytes(free of
visible grains under the microscope).

TYPES OF WHITE BLOOD CELLS (Leukocytes)

1. Neutrophils - a of white blood cell also called polymorphonuclear (PMN) because they have a
variety of nuclear shapes. In fact, most of the white blood cells that lead the immune system’s
response are neutrophils. Neutrophils are the most plentiful type, making up 55 to 70 percent of your
white blood cells. Neutrophils are important because, unlike some of the other white blood cells, they
aren’t limited to a specific area of circulation. They can move freely through the walls of veins and
into the tissues of your body to immediately attack all antigens. Life span for 6 hours or few days.

Functions
1. Kills bacteria through the process of phagocytosis.
2. They also release a burst of super oxides that have the ability to kill many bacteria at the same tim
2. Eosinophils - are a type of white blood cell that plays an important role in the body's response to

allergic reactions, asthma, and infection with parasites. These cells have a role in the protective
immunity against certain parasites but also contribute to the inflammation that occurs in allergic
disorders. They grab onto lots of eosin dye when they're stained, making their large granules a red
 color. The granules in an eosinophil usually cover the nucleus, but sometimes you can see that the
nucleus is segmented. Eosinophils are not as common in the blood as neutrophils. They're usually less
than three percent of a person's total white blood cells. Unless you have allergies, then they come out
to fight. Depending on the severity of the allergic reaction, they can be in much higher percentages.
Although their primary job is to be involved in allergic reactions, eosinophils are also increased when
a person has a parasite. Life span of 8 to 12 days.

Functions
1. Kills parasites and have a role in allergic reactions.
2. Releases toxins from their granules to kill pathogens.

3. Basophils - type of white blood cell (leukocyte) that is characterized histologically by its ability to
be stained by basic dyes and functionally by its role in mediating hypersensitivity reactions of
theimmune system. Basophils, along with eosinophils and neutrophils, constitute a group of white
blood cells known as granulocytes. Basophils are the least numerous of the granulocytes and account
for less than 1 percent of all white blood cells occurring in the human body. Their large granules stain
purple-black in colour and almost completely obscure the underlying double-lobed nucleus. Within
hours of their release from the bone marrow, basophils migrate from the circulation to the barrier
 tissues (e.g., the skin and mucosa), where they synthesize and store histamine, a natural modulator of
the inflammatory response. Life span of few hours to few days.

Functions
1. Functions in allergic reactions.
2. Secrete anticoagulants and antibodies that have function against hypersensitivity reactions in the
bloodstream.
3. Basophils contain histamine, which dilates the vessels to bring more immune cells to the area of
injury.
4. Secrete heparin which is an anticoagulant that promotes mobility of other WBCs by preventing
clotting.

4. Lymphocytes – a type of white blood cell (leukocyte) that is of fundamental importance in

the immune system because lymphocytes are the cells that determine the specificity of the immune
response to infectious microorganisms and other foreign substances. In human adults lymphocytes
make up roughly 20 to 40 percent of the total number of white blood cells. They are found in the
circulation and also are concentrated in central lymphoid organs and tissues, such as the spleen,
tonsils, and lymph nodes, where the initial immune response is likely to occur.  Some lymphocytes
migrate to the thymus, where they mature into T cells; others remain in the bone marrow, where—in
humans—they develop into B cells. Most lymphocytes are short-lived, with an average life span of a
 week to a few months, but a few live for years, providing a pool of long-lived T and B cells. Life span
of years for memory cells and weeks for all else.

Functions
1. T lymphocytes (T cells) are responsible for cell-mediated immunity.
2. B lymphocytes are responsible for humoral immunity or antibody production.
3. They can recognize and have a memory of invading bacteria and viruses.
4. Function in destroying cancer cells.
5. They present antigens to activate other cells of the immune system.

5.

Monocytes - serve as part of the defense against infection by "eating" up foreign particles. When a
monocyte is found in tissue, it is called a macrophage.
Monocytes are large cells- three to four times the size of a red blood cell. However, there are not too
many in the bloodstream. In a normal person, there are one to six percent monocytes. Monocytes can
be difficult to differentiate from lymphocytes. Monocytes usually have a larger amount of cytoplasm
in relation to the size of the nucleus. They are also usually more irregular in shape than the smooth
lymphocytes. The cytoplasm of a monocyte is a dull blue-gray color. Even though they are not
granulocytes, monocytes have granules. They are very fine and lightly stained, giving the monocyte
cytoplasm a "ground-glass" appearance. You may also see vacuoles. These look like holes in the
cytoplasm. When a monocyte has vacuoles, you know it has been hard at work. The vacuoles contain
chemicals that digest the foreign particles. The nucleus of the monocyte is usually kidney-shaped and
has brain-like convolutions (ie- the nucleus looks like it's folded). Life span of few hours to few days.
Functions
1. Enters the tissue, where they become larger and turn into macrophages.
2. Destroy old, damaged and dead cells in the body.