A thread discussing WHITE BLOOD CELLS.

๐Ÿ’‰ Blood is made up of erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white blood cells), plasma, and platelets.

๐Ÿ’‰ Although leukocytes only make up about 1% of blood, they have a BIG impact.

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๐Ÿ’‰ Blood is produced in the bone marrow, this is the spongy tissue inside some of the larger bones in the body (such as the hips and thigh bones).

๐Ÿ’‰ Hematopoietic stem cells are stem cells that turn into blood cells (see image).

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๐Ÿ“ธ thanks to ApolloDiagnostics
๐Ÿฆ  Leukocytes (WBC's) are an important part of the immune system. They move through blood and tissue throughout your body, looking for foreign invaders (microbes) such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi.

๐Ÿฆ  There are many different types of leukocytes.

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Monocytes - Phagocytose (engulf cells)

Lymphocytes - Create antibodies

Neutrophils - First line of defense when infection strikes

Basophils - Secrete chemicals such as histamine, triggering a response

Eosinophils - Fight microbes & help with allergic responses

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Neutropenia - a condition where there are not enough neutrophils in the blood (<0.5). This could be due to blood cancer (e.g. leukemia) or it could be the side effect of a treatment (e.g. some chemotherapies). It's important they get treated quickly for any infection

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๐Ÿ’‰ Patients who are neutropenic (neutrophils <0.5) are more likely to become severely unwell from an infection.

๐Ÿ’‰ Neutropenic sepsis is when a patient with a low level of neutrophils gets an infection which they can't fight off and become septic.

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Leukocytes (WBC's) have such an important role in the body at fighting off those pesky infections and they are working around the clock to keep us healthy.

We hope this thread has been helpful!

If you have any more interesting facts or questions then post them โฌ‡๏ธ๐Ÿ’‰

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