8/3/2019 Blood Components Leukocyte Station

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Leukocytes

AKA White Blood Cells

What do Leukocytes actually do??? Here’s an example. While Red blood cells tend to flow smoothly through the bloodstream, white blood cellsdo not. Many of them adhere to blood vessel walls or even penetrate the walls toenter other tissues. When white blood cells reach the site of an infection or otherproblem, they release substances that attract more white blood cells. The white cellsfunction like an army, dispersed throughout the body but ready at a moment's notice togather and fight off an invading organism. Once the invader has been engulfed, theleukocyte releases enzymes to digest the microbe and the leukocyte itself. Theresult is the formation of pus, which is all that remains of this destruction. 

White blood cells are fewer in number than Red

blood cells. There are about 660 RBCs for every 1

Leukocyte in your circulation. White blood cells

are also much larger than red blood cells and can

easily be identified by their darkly stained

nucleus.

There are FIVE main types of white blood cells

that work together to provide the body's defence

against infections.

Neutrophils

These are the most prevalent leukocyte. They

contain enzyme-filled granules, and are sometimes

called “granulocytes”. They ingest foreign material

and protect against bacterial and fungal infections.

Lymphocytes are the second most common

leukocyte. There are two main types: T

lymphocytes mature in the Thymus.They protect

against viral infections. B lymphocytes mature in

the Bone marrow and are responsible for

production of antibodies.

Monocytes, Eosinophils, and Basophils are much

less prevalent, but each serves a specific purpose.

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Platelets (thrombocytes) are shown above as small yellow blobs next to RBCs. They are cell-like

particles smaller than red or white blood cells. They play a major role in clot formation. They become

activated at site of damage/bleeding. Once activated, they become sticky and clump together to form a

plug that helps seal the blood vessel. At the same time, they release substances that help promote

blood clotting.

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For an interesting visual comparison of relative sizes between

human hair, dust mites, ragweed pollen, leukocytes, erythrocytes,

bacteria, and virus particle, go to

http://www.cellsalive.com/howbig.htm 

OR

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/scale/ for a

more controlled simulator, capable of comparing everything from

a coffee bean down to a carbon atom.

 Additional reading (and illustrations) on blood

components, check out the following sites.

http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/blood/blood.htm#17 

http://anthro.palomar.edu/blood/blood_components.htm 

If you’re interested in gaining additional perspective on the units

of measure (from kilometer down to nanometer), visit:

http://mrsec.wisc.edu/Edetc/nanoscale/index.html