Leukocytes - Blood Warriors

Leukocytes, or white blood cells, play an important role in protecting our body from infections and diseases. They have a complete nuclear structure and can have a variety of nuclear shapes, including round, kidney-shaped, or multilobed.

In human blood, the number of leukocytes ranges from 5 to 10 thousand per 1 mm3, and they are formed in various organs of the body, such as the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, axillary lymph nodes, tonsils and plates of Payer, as well as in the gastric mucosa.

The main function of leukocytes is to protect the body from infections. They can engulf and destroy bacteria through the process of phagocytosis or participate in immune processes. Depending on the presence of granularity in the cytoplasm, leukocytes are divided into two groups: granulocytes and agranulocytes.

White blood cells - granulocytes - have granular cytoplasm and various nuclear shapes. The most numerous and active of them are neutrophils, which make up about 70% of the total number of granulocytes. They carry out phagocytosis and are the first to come to the rescue during infection.

In addition to neutrophils, granulocytes also include basophils (1%) and eosinophils (4%). They play an important role in allergic reactions and protection against parasites.

White blood cells - agranulocytes - do not have granular cytoplasm. They include monocytes and lymphocytes. Monocytes are large cells that have high phagocytic activity and can turn into macrophages that destroy infectious agents and other harmful substances in tissues.

Lymphocytes are small cells that play an important role in the immune system. They are divided into small (about 90% of the total number of lymphocytes) and large (the remaining 10%). Small lymphocytes, in turn, are divided into T cells and B cells. T cells are responsible for cellular immunity and can destroy infected cells, while B cells are responsible for synthesizing antibodies and destroying infectious agents.

White blood cells are the fighting units of blood and play an important role in protecting our body from diseases and infections. They can recognize and destroy infectious agents, as well as participate in immune processes. Even though white blood cells make up only 1% of our blood, their importance to our health cannot be overestimated.

It is interesting that every second about 10 million red blood cells die in our body, which have completed about 172,000 complete revolutions in the circulatory system. Erythrocytes are red blood cells that are responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body. Leukocytes are “blood warriors” who fight for our health and well-being.

It is important to note that some diseases and conditions can lead to changes in the number and quality of white blood cells in the blood. For example, infections, autoimmune diseases, tumors and other pathological processes can cause changes in the number and type of white blood cells, which may indicate the presence of a disease.

In conclusion, we can say that white blood cells play an important role in protecting our body from infections and diseases. Their diversity and abilities allow them to effectively fight various types of pathogens. Therefore, in order to maintain health, it is necessary to monitor the level of leukocytes in the blood and take measures to maintain them at normal levels.