|
|
 |
 |
Eosinophils
Eosinophils are a type of granulocytes,
which are in turn a type of leucocytes (white
blood cells).
Granulocytes (including eosinophils) are
distinguished from the other category of leucocytes (called
agranulocytes)
because granulocytes contain chemical-filled
cytoplasmic vesicles called "granules".
|
| |
2-4% of all white
blood cells are eosinophils.
Eosinophils are 10-12 um in diameter, have nuclei
that have 2-3 lobes, and cytoplasm that includes large red-orange
granules.
|
|
Eosinophils combat the effects of histamine in allergic
reactions, phagocytize antigen-antibody complexes, and destroy
certain parasitic worms.
An increased (higher than usual) percentage
of eosinophils in the blood may indicate parasitic infection
somewhere
in
the body.
|
|
Phagocytosis is the engulfment and digestion of bacteria
and other antigens by phagocytes:
|
|
|
For more information about other components (or "constituents") of
blood, see the page about:
The Structure
and Functions of Blood.
This may interest students of massage, reflexology, beauty therapies, or other
health or clinical courses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
