Leukocytes
Leukocytes, the colorless blood cells, generally called white blood cells or corpuscles. The blood contains several varieties of leukocytes which can be differentiated and counted by straining and other techniques, including observation under the microscope.
The number of leukocytes in a person’s body varies over a lifetime and during the course of a single day. More leukocytes are present in childhood and in pregnancy. After meals an increase of leukocytes occurs, due to an increase in the number of lymphocytes from the lymph glands. Any increase in the number of leukocytes is known as leukocytes. In disease this is serious; leukemia is one of the most critical diseases affecting the blood.
In certain diseases, such as granulocytes, leukocytes are almost totally absent from the blood. Sensitivity to certain toxic drugs may cause complete absence of leukocytes; and, since these cells are essential to resist infection, their absence may be fatal. In typhoid fever and certain other diseases, the number of leukocytes may fall below normal, a condition known as leucopenia. In cases in which it is desirable to increase the number of leukocytes, certain drugs and serums may be injected.
Tags: absence, diseases, lifetime, lymph glands, lymphocytes, observation, serums, single day, typhoid fever, white blood cells