There are 3 main types of white blood cells in the body. They are;
1.
BASOPHILS
They are the cells mainly responsible for allergic reactions. They defend against parasites and bacteria by excreting two chemicals; Heparin and histamine. Heparin is a blood thinning substance. Histamine widens blood vessels and increase blood flow to infected tissues.
2.
EOSINOPHILS
They attack and kill parasites, destroy cancer cells and
help with allergic responses.
3.
GRANULOCYTES
These types of white blood cells have their cytoplasm dotted
with granules. There are 3 white blood cells in this group;
a.
NEUTROPHILS
Neutrophils are the first white blood cells to move to the
site of injury before other white blood cells. They contain enzymes that help
them to digest any invading pathogen.
b.
MONOCYTES/ MACROPHAGES
Monocytes develop into macrophages after they have left the
blood and migrated into tissue. There, they engulf (phagocytose) and digest
pathogens before other types of WBC reach the area.
c.
LYMPHOCYTES
Lymphocytes consist of 2 main classes of cells; the B cells
that mature in the bone marrow and the T cells that mature in the thymus gland.
Activated B cells(plasma cells) produce highly specific antibodies that bind to
the agent that triggered the immune response. T cells (Helper T cells) secrete
chemicals that recruit other immune cells and help coordinate their attack.
Another group, called cytotoxic T cells attack virally infected cells.
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