In: Anatomy and Physiology
Question 6 options: The color of the neutrophil's (?) is a very light pink or blue and its nucleus has many (?) as it ages. Because it has the capacity to ingest and destroy certain intruders and or particles, it takes part in the process known as (?).
The neutrophils are white blood cells present in blood which destroy pathogens. They comprise 50-70% of the leukocyte count. Their size is 10-12 micron in diameter. The cytoplasm of neutrophils appears as light pink or blue as it so composed of granules. There are two types of granules. The granules that contain alkaline phosphatase, collagenase, and lysozyme. The other granules are azurophilic containing lysosome rich enzymes. These granules are stained by metachromatic dyes to give light purple or blue color. The granules are responsible for the light pink or blue color of the cytoplasm when stained with neutral dyes.
The nucleus of neutrophils is dark and multilobed. It typically has 2-5 lobes. The number of lobes depend on the age of the neutrophils. The number of lobes/segments is increased in older neutrophils. The lobes are joined by strands of chromatin. Hence, these older neutrophils are called polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). Younger neutrophils have lesser lobes in the nucleus. Their nucleus is oblong or rectangular and is called bands.
Neutrophils are involved in tissue defense by phenomenon of phagocytosis. They have granules that release antimicrobial agents which are released. Once the cell is ingested by phagocytosis, the neutrophils granules release enzymes that will break down cell. The neutrophils destroy bacteria during acute inflammatory response. Lysozyme lyses or breaks down bacterial cell wall. Hydrogen peroxide and defensin protein can puncture the cell membrane leading to release of cell components.
Right choice (in order): Neutrophil’s Cytoplasm; nucleus has lobes (Or segments), take part in process known as Phagocytosis