leukocytes
Immune system soldiers
Leukocytes are white blood cells—the cells of the immune system that defend the body against infection and foreign invaders.
The term is medical jargon; doctors and researchers say leukocytes where ordinary speech says white blood cells.
A high leukocyte count may indicate infection; a low count suggests immune deficiency.
Pathogen-fighting components of plasma
- neutrophilsPathogen-engulfing white blood cells
- lymphocytesAdaptive immunity cells
- monocytesCirculating immune phagocytes
- eosinophilsGranular leukocytes fighting parasites
basophils · erythrocytes · platelets · plasma · bone marrow · hematopoiesis · hematology · cytology
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- leukocytosisExcess circulating white cells
- leukopeniaLow white cell count
- sepsisDangerous inflammatory infection response
fever · wound healing · pus · abscess · lymph nodes · spleen · tonsils · blood test
Cellular ingestion of particles
- antibodiesProteins targeting pathogens
- antigensImmunity-triggering foreign substances
- T-cellsThymus-matured immune lymphocytes
- B-cellsAntibody-secreting immune cells
macrophages · cytokines · interleukins · immunoglobulins · innate immunity · chemotaxis · immune response · thymus
white blood cells
Pathogen-fighting components of plasma
- neutrophilsPathogen-engulfing white blood cells
- lymphocytesAdaptive immunity cells
- monocytesCirculating immune phagocytes
eosinophils · basophils · erythrocytes · platelets · plasma · bone marrow · hematopoiesis · hematology · cytology · cell membrane
infection
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- leukocytosisExcess circulating white cells
- leukopeniaLow white cell count
sepsis · fever · wound healing · pus · abscess · lymph nodes · spleen · tonsils · blood test · complete blood count
phagocytosis
Cellular ingestion of particles
- antibodiesProteins targeting pathogens
- antigensImmunity-triggering foreign substances
- T-cellsThymus-matured immune lymphocytes
B-cells · macrophages · cytokines · interleukins · immunoglobulins · innate immunity · chemotaxis · immune response · thymus · immunodeficiency
- bloodblood, plasma, platelet, platelets, red blood cell
- cellscells, blood cell, cell theory, nerve cell, red blood cell
- Blood Systemblood, blood cells, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets
- immunityimmune, immunity, immune system, immune response, immune cells
- blood cellsred blood cell, red blood cells, white blood cell, white blood cells, red cells
- Blood Componentsred blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, platelets, erythrocytes
leukocyteserythrocytes
Oxygen-carrying blood cells
red blood cells · RBCs · red corpuscles · platelets · red cells
leukocytespathogens
Disease-causing microorganisms
bacteria · viruses · infectious agents · foreign bodies · microbes