AN OVERVIEW ABOUT NEUTROPHIL, BASOPHIL, EOSINOPHIL, MONOCYTE, MEGAKARYOCYTE, LYMPHOCYTE The neutrophil (A) contains neutrophilic granules.

Neutrophils are involved in the acute phase of inflammation and are responsible for the phagocytosis of invading bacteria. Neutrophils contain lysozyme and alkaline phosphatase within their granules. They die soon after phagocytosing bacteria and are added to the pus, which consists of dead neutrophils, serum, and tissue fluids. Basophil. The basophil (B) is about the same size as the neutrophil (A) and contains granules of variable size that may obscure the nucleus. The nucleus of the basophil is irregularly lobed with condensed chromatin. Basophils are involved in the attraction of eosinophils to the site of infection. This occurs in parasitic and nonparasitic infections and involves chemoattraction by histamine and eosinophil-chemoattractant factor of anaphylaxis (ECF-A). Basophils are similar in structure and function to the connective tissue mast cell. Basophils are also phagocytic granulocytes, but are involved in inflammation through the release of histamine and heparin. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) produced by plasma cells becomes bound to the cell surface of mast cells and basophils on first exposure. At the time of secondary exposure, the antigen binds to the IgE and stimulates the degranulation of mast cell and basophil granules releasing histamine and heparin. Basophils and mast cells are involved in anaphylactic and immediate hypersensitivity reactions. Eosinophil. The eosinophil (C) is bilobed with more regular granules than the basophil (B). Eosinophils have less phagocytic ability than neutrophils and may kill parasites by either phagocytosis or exocytotic release of granules. Eosinophils contain major basic protein, histaminase, acid phosphatase, and other lysosomal enzymes. Eosinophils are essential for the destruction of parasites such as trichinae and schistosomes. Monocyte. The monocyte (D) contains an eccentric nucleus, which is often kidney-shaped. The chromatin generally has a ropelike appearance and, therefore, is less condensed than the chromatin of a lymphocyte (F). The monocyte has some phagocytic activity in the blood, but its major role is as a source of macrophages throughout the body including Langerhans cells (skin), microglia (brain), and Kupffer cells (liver). Megakaryocyte. The megakaryocyte (E) is a large cell with a multilobular appearance and is the source of platelets. Megakaryocytes fragment to form the platelets, which are key elements of the blood. Lymphocyte. The lymphocyte (F) is considered an agranular cell with an ovoid nucleus and scanty cytoplasm. The shape and the arrangement of chromatin vary, depending on the classification of the lymphocyte: small, medium, or large. Small and medium are involved in chronic inflammation, whereas, large lymphocytes are the source of T and B cells. Lymphocytes are either T or B cells based on their education in the thymus or bone marrow. Plasma cells differentiate from B lymphocytes that undergo mitosis and form a plasma cell and a memory cell after exposure to appropriate antigen. An antigen-presenting cell and a specific subtype of T lymphocyte called a helper T cell are required for B cell differentiation into antibodyproducing plasma cells.