Full Form Of WBC

What is the Full form of WBC?

WBC stands for White Blood Cell. Also known as Leukocytes, this colorless cell accounts for 1 percent of the total blood in the human body. It helps defend against pathogens and creates antibodies that recognize and counter the foreign agents in the body like fungi, viruses, and bacteria. WBC comprises granule-like structures called Granulocytes that don’t contain agranulocytes.

Various types of WBC

There are five types of WBC: 

1. Lymphocytes

This type is also known as natural killer cells and helps in the development of antibodies and body protection. Its size varies from 8 to 10 micrometers and one person has an average of 10 to 12 lymphocyte cells in their body. WBC is known as lymphocytes as they develop in lymphoid tissue and are very significant in the immune system. It is of two types, namely, B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes.

2. Monocytes

This type has a large bilobed half-moon or kidney-shaped nucleus with a diameter of 12 to 20 micrometers. It occupies 3 to 8% of WBCs and is the garbage vehicle of the immune system. It moves from one tissue to another to remove dead cells, shields from bloodborne pathogens, and moves rapidly towards the infected cells. 

3. Neutrophils

This type usually found in the bloodstream is present in pus and is formed in the bone marrow every day. Stained with neutral dyes, these predominant cells make 60 to 70 percent of all WBCs and have a diameter of 10 to 12 micrometers. 

The cytoplasm has tiny granules whereas the nucleus is lobed with 2 to 5. It is a potent oxidant that helps lysosomes to degrade bacteria. They are the first cells that react to any kind of invasion in the body and have a life of about 8 hours. 

4. Eosinophils

This type is present in the immune system and helps combat infections in vertebrate parasites and regulate processes related to allergy & asthma. Found in the digestive tract at high concentrations, the formation of these small agranulocytes takes place in the bone marrow and they make 2 to 4% of all WBCs.

5. Basophils

This type makes 0.01 to 0.3 percent of WBC and contains large cytoplasmic granules that help mount a non-specific immune response to pathogens and allergic reactions. This is done by releasing histamine and dilating the blood vessels. 

WBCs have 20 to 25 percent of basophils. Due to this, they stain when exposed to simple dyes and are known as basophilia. They especially help in the case of asthma that results in airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction.