neutrophil
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: * A type of white blood cell (leukocyte) that is the most abundant phagocyte in the human immune system. It is characterized by a nucleus with multiple lobes (segmented) and cytoplasmic granules that stain with neutral, basic, or acid dyes. Its primary function is to ingest and destroy (phagocytose) bacteria and other foreign particles.
Usage
Neutrophils are a critical component of the innate immune system and are the first responders to sites of infection or inflammation. * A high neutrophil count in a blood test often indicates a bacterial infection. * The doctor explained that neutrophils migrate from the bloodstream to the site of the wound to fight potential pathogens.
Advanced Usage
- Neutrophilia: A medical condition referring to an abnormally high number of neutrophils in the bloodstream.
- The patient's neutrophilia was a clear sign of an acute inflammatory response.
- Neutropenia: A medical condition referring to an abnormally low number of neutrophils, increasing the risk of infection.
- Chemotherapy can cause neutropenia, requiring careful monitoring for fever.
Variants and Related Words
- Neutrophilic (adjective): Relating to or characteristic of neutrophils.
- The sample showed a strong neutrophilic infiltrate in the tissue.
- Polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN): A full technical name, referring to the cell's multi-lobed nucleus.
- PMNs are rapidly recruited from the blood during the early stages of inflammation.
Synonyms
- Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)
- Segmented neutrophil (seg)
Related Terms and Phrases
- Phagocyte: A cell that engulfs and absorbs bacteria and other small cells and particles. (Neutrophils are a type of phagocyte.)
- Granulocyte: A category of white blood cells characterized by the presence of granules in their cytoplasm. (Neutrophils are the most common type of granulocyte.)
- Innate immunity: The body's first line of nonspecific defense against pathogens, in which neutrophils play a major role.
Noun
- the chief phagocytic leukocyte; stains with either basic or acid dyes