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granulocytes
Thursday 29 September 2016
granulocyte ; polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN, PML, or PMNL)
| WKPD |
Definition: Granulocytes are a category of leukocytes (white blood cells) characterized by the presence of granules in their cytoplasm.
They are also called polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN, PML, or PMNL) because of the varying shapes of the nucleus, which is usually lobed into three segments. This distinguishes them from the mononuclear agranulocytes.
In common parlance, the term polymorphonuclear leukocyte often refers specifically to neutrophil granulocytes, the most abundant of the granulocytes; the other types (eosinophils, basophils, and mast cells) have lower numbers.
Granulocytes are produced via granulopoiesis in the bone marrow.
Types
neutrophilic granulocytes / neutrophils
eosinophilic granulocytes / eosinophils
basophilic granulocytes / basophils
See also
leukocytes
