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There are two types of White Blood Cells present in Blood which plays a crucial role in fighting against the antibodies and also in preventing the blood flow or blood clotting in the body during injuries. They are different in terms of cytoplasmic concentration and the presence or absence of granules in the cells. These two types are: Granulocytes and Agranulocytes.
The human body has a naturally existing defence mechanism system that protects the body from the attack of foreign materials and organisms like bacteria, fungi, parasites and others. This defence mechanism majorly consists of White Blood cells which ensure the activities of fighting against the antibodies entering the body by creating required antigens. These White Blood Cells are also called Leukocytes which are found in the blood of the Human body.
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Key Terms: White Blod Cells, Granulocyte, Agranulocytes, Neutrophils, Eosinophils, Basophils, Monocytes, Lymphocytes
Granulocytes: Definition
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Granulocyte is a type of White blood cell that has granules in its cytoplasm or we can say that they are granular white blood cells. They have nucleus in them unlike in red blood cells and platelets. Their nucleus has two to five lobes in it and hence they are called Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes.
Granules of Granulocytes contain digesting phagocytosed particles, enzymes and inflammatory mediators which are released in bloodstreams whenever required. They are mainly involved in providing an innate immunity system to the body by producing different immune responses depending on a particular pathogen.
Types of Granulocytes
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There are three types of granulocytes:
Neutrophils: Neutrophils cover around 60% of the total granulocytes of the blood and hence are the most abundant cell type in blood. They protect the body against fungal or bacterial infection by following a process of migration. They are the first responders towards inflammation produced in an infected cell.
Eosinophils: Eosinophils are kidney-shaped granulocytes and are involved in providing a defence mechanism against parasitic infections. They also help to fight against Collagen diseases and allergies in the body by providing allergic responses.
Basophils: Basophils are found in the bloodstream or in the bone marrow of the cell. They are found in the least amount and play a role in providing antigen or allergic responses. They help to prevent blood clotting inside the blood vessels as they contain anticoagulant heparin in them. Along with heparin, they can also secrete histamines and other chemicals beneficial for the defence mechanism.
Agranulocytes: Definition
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Agranulocytes are another type of White blood cell that does not contain any granules in its cytoplasm or we can say that they are agranular white blood cells. They also have a nucleus in it like the Granulocytes have but their nucleus has only lobe or we can say that they have a non-segmented nucleus and therefore they are called Mononuclear Leukocytes.
Agranulocytes
Agranulocytes contain some enzymes in their Lysosomes and are mainly involved in the adaptive immune system for providing an immune response as per the specific pathogen attacking the human body.
Types of Agranulocytes
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There are three types of Agranulocytes:
Monocytes: Monocytes have an amoeboid shape and are present in large numbers. They are involved in both the adaptive and innate immune systems of an organism. They secrete chemokines and cytokines and can migrate into tissue within 8-12 hours. They play an important role by providing T-cells, which helps to recognise the pathogens and kill them again in future.
Lymphocytes: Lymphocytes contain B-Cells which make T-cells, antibodies and natural killer cells. These T and B lymphocytes are involved in the identification of different antigens and for generating specific antibodies for those particular pathogens. Lymphocytes are present in the lymphatic system of the blood and provide stability to the human body.
Macrophages: Macrophages are beneficial in the digestion of pathogens and cellular debris of the human body and they are uninucleate with a lesser number of lobes and hence considered under Agranulocytes.
Macrophages
Difference between Granulocytes and Agranulocytes
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After going through a brief theory for both Granulocytes and Agranulocytes, let us discuss some of the points of difference between Granulocytes and Agranulocytes on the basis of different parameters:
| Parameters | Granulocytes | Agranulocytes |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Present of Granules in the nucleus of the white blood cell. | Absence of Granules in the nuclear of the white blood cells |
| Other names | Named as Polymorphonuclear leukocytes | Named as Mononuclear leukocytes. |
| Number of lobes | It has 2-5 lobes in its nucleus. | It has only 1 lobe in its nucleus. |
| Area cover | Its covers about 65% of the total leukocytes in the blood. | It covers about 25% of the total leukocytes in the blood. |
| Point of Origin | They originate from the bone marrow. | They originate from the lymphoid tissues of the body. |
| Types of WBCs | It has three types: Eosinophils, Neutrophils and Basophils. | It has three types: Lymphocytes, Monocytes and Macrophages. |
| Function | Involved in the Innate immune system of the body. | Involved in the Adaptive immune system of the body. |
Granulocyte and Agranulocyte
Things to Remember
- Granulocytes have granular cytoplasm and Agranulocytes have no granules in their cytoplasm.
- Granulocytes and Agranulocytes, both are a type of White blood cells that plays a crucial role in providing a defence mechanism to the human body.
- Granulocytes cover 65% of the total White blood cells of the blood and Agranulocytes cover 35% of the total White blood cells.
- Granulocytes originate from the bone marrow of the body and Agranulocytes originate from the lymphoid tissues of the body.
- Granulocytes are of three types: Eosinophils, Basophils and Neutrophils.
- Agranulocytes are also of three types: Macrophages, Lymphocytes and Monocytes.
Sample Questions
Ques: How defence mechanism of a human body is managed by blood? (3 marks)
Ans: The defence mechanism of the human body is managed by the White Blood cells (WBCs) present in the human blood. These WBCs provide protection to the immune system of the body by fighting against the antigens or foreign particles entering the body. In its response, they form suitable antibodies to kill the antigen and protect the human system. WBCs also have the anticoagulation enzyme Heparin which provides the function of blood clotting.
Ques: How are Mast cells different from Macrophages? (2 marks)
Ans: Mast cells are considered under Granulocytes leukocytes of the WBC and Macrophages are considered under Agranulocytes leukocytes. Mast cells provide protection against allergic reactions of the body and Macrophages are helpful in the digestion of pathogens.
Ques: What is the role of T lymphocytes? (2 marks)
Ans: T-Lymphocytes are types of Agranulocytes Leukocytes that are able to recognize specific antigens present in infected cells of the human body. There are three types of T cells: T helper cells, T suppressor cells and T cytotoxic cells. T helper cells activate the B lymphocytes cells to produce specific antibodies. T cytotoxic cells work against tumor cells.
Ques: How granulocytes are different from Agranulocytes? (2 marks)
Ans: Granulocytes are different from Agranulocytes in terms of their staining capacity and also with the presence of granules in their cytoplasm. Agranulocytes are crucial for the Adaptive immune system of the human body and Granulocytes are for the innate immune system of the body.
Ques: How are Agranulocytes beneficial in the defence mechanism of the human body? (2 marks)
Ans: Agranulocytes covers around 35% of the total leucocytes capacity of the human body and they are crucial for the adaptive immune system of the body. They develop suitable antibodies against the specific pathogen that has attacked the body. There are major three types of Agranulocytes as Macrophages, Lymphocytes and Monocytes.
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