Leucocyte
Leucocytes or leukocytes, colloquially known as white blood cells (WBCs), are clear, colorless cells that circulate in the blood and lymph and are integral part of the immune system.[1]
Leucocytes are divided into the types: neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes. Each of these types has further derivatives, for example Natural killer cells are derivative of lymphocytes.[2]
There are two lymphoid tissue types:
- Primary Lymphoid tissues, comprising the bone marrow and thymus where leucocytes are synthesized[3]
- Secondary lymphoid tissues, comprising the spleen, lymph nodes and mucosa associated lymphoid tissues (MALT)[3]
Secondary lymphoid tissues contain the mature leucocytes that react to infection, triggering an immune response[3].
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "leucocyte". The Free Dictionary.
- ↑ "Natural Killer Cells | British Society for Immunology". immunology.org. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Male, D (2007), Immunology, Milton Keynes, The Open University/Milton Keynes, The Open University
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