Leukocyte (WBC) Functions

Question 1

Neutrophils

Answer 1

granules are the smallest and most weakly stained, most multi-lobed nucleus

Most numerous WBC of blood. Emigrates fastest to sites of injury to start on phagocytosis. Armed with lysozymes, defensins, superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, and hypochlorite anions

Question 2

Eosinophils

Answer 2

stain red/orange

Emigrates to combat the inflammatory effects of Basophils. Also specializes in killing parasitic worms, specifically phagocytosing viruses that have been tagged with antibodies

Question 3

Basophils

Answer 3

stain blue/purple, granules cover the nucleus

Emigrates to hose injured tissue with inflammatory compounds (heparin, histamine, and serotonin)

Question 4

Lymphocytes

Answer 4

huge nucleus and sky blue staining around the nucleus

The “brains” of the organization. They take part in non-specific innate immunity (inflammation), but they mediate “learned” immunity (antibodies)

Question 5

Monocytes

Answer 5

cytoplasm stains blue-ish and has a foamy look, nucleus shaped like a horseshoe

Emigrate to greatly enlarge and become macrophages that end up eating more microbes than any other WBC