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Monocytes |
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Monocytes are a type of agranulocytes,
which are in turn a type of leucocytes (white
blood cells).
Agranulocytes (including monocytes) are distinguished from the
other category of leucocytes (called
granulocytes)
because agranulocytes do not contain chemical-filled
cytoplasmic vesicles called "granules".
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3-8% of all white
blood cells are monocytes.
Monocytes are typically 12-20 um in diameter.
They have kidney-shaped
nuclei and blue-grey cytoplasm which looks somewhat "foamy".
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An important function of monocytes is
combatting microbes by the process of phagocytosis (after
transforming into fixed or wandering macrophages). |
Phagocytosis
is the engulfment and digestion of bacteria and other
antigens by phagocytes, as illustrated:
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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.
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