White blood cell

From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science

Red blood cell, platelet, and white blood cell

White blood cells are the type of blood cells that fights infection in the body by seeking-out and destroying disease-causing microorganisms. Also known as leukocytes, the white blood cells are responsible for maintaining the immune system’s response to foreign substances and infection. They play a number of roles in immune response, including antibody production, attacking and destroying cancer cells, and producing substances that kill tumors. They are divided into many different categories on the basis of their functions and appearance.

Five different types of leukocytes exist:

Neutrophils
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
Eosinophils
Basophils

There are normally between 4x10⁹ and 11x10⁹ white blood cells in a liter of healthy adult blood - about 7 000 to 25 000 white blood cells per drop. Many white blood cells are found outside the blood stream. Large numbers are found in the lymphatic system, the spleen, and in other body tissues. Those in the blood may have the ability to crawl out of blood vessels, squeezing between the cells of the vessel walls.

Unlike red blood cells, the white blood cells do not contain hemoglobin.