What Is the Function of White Blood Cells?
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Defend against bacterial and fungal infections
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The body uses white blood cells to fight infection. The interesting thing is that there are several types of white blood cells used to fight different infections. The most numerous type of white blood cell is the neutrophil, which defends against bacterial and fungal infections. They are the major players in the body's defense system. Made in the bone marrow, they are constantly circulating through the blood stream. Once they discover infection, they move out of the blood cells and into the infected tissue to attack it. The pus you discover after treating a wound? That is a result of the neutrophils.
Defend against parasitic infections
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The eosinophil cells deal with parasitic infections. If the eosinophil cell count in your blood is high, it is an indication of a parasitic infection. It is the eosinophil cell that will fight the infection caused by the parasite. This type of cell is also responsible for reacting to any substance that causes an allergic response.
Take care of allergic responses
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The basophil cells are responsible for allergic and antigen responses. These are the cells that release the histamines and cause inflammation during an allergic reaction.
Provide immunity
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The lymphocyte cell is the cell most responsible for providing your body with immunity. You know the vaccinations we all receive? These are the cells making immunity against disease possible. These lymphocytes will create antibodies that bind themselves to the pathogens or invaders in our system and then enable their destruction.
Act as the clean-up crew
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Monocytes are the white blood cells that act as the vacuum cleaners in our systems. After an infection has been killed or destroyed, it is these cells that clean up the damage left behind. They will actually ingest dead cells, tissue debris and old red blood cells--anything left behind after the body has battled the infection.
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