Neutrophil

Neutrophil
A type of white blood cell, specifically a form of granulocyte, filled with neutrally-staining granules, tiny sacs of enzymes that help the cell to kill and digest microorganisms it has engulfed by phagocytosis. The mature neutrophil has a segmented nucleus (it is called a seg or poly) while the immature neutrophil has band-shape nucleus (it is called a band). The neutrophil has a lifespan of about 3 days. Neutrophilia, an increased proportion of neutrophils in the blood, is a common finding with acute bacterial infections. Neutropenia, a decreased proportion of neutrophils, may be seen with viral infections and after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Neutropenia lowers the immunologic barrier to bacterial and fungal infection.

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neu·tro·phil 'n(y)ü-trə-.fil or neu·tro·phil·ic .n(y)ü-trə-'fil-ik also neu·tro·phile 'n(y)ü-trə-.fīl adj staining to the same degree with acid or basic dyes <\neutrophil granulocytes>
neutrophil also neutrophile n a granulocyte that is the chief phagocytic white blood cell

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n.
a variety of granulocyte (a type of white blood cell) distinguished by a lobed nucleus and the presence in its cytoplasm of fine granules that stain purple with Romanowsky stains. It is capable of ingesting and killing bacteria and provides an important defence against infection. There are normally 2.0-7.5 x 109 neutrophils per litre of blood.

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neu·tro·phil (nooґtro-fil) [neutro- + -phil] 1. a mature granular leukocyte that is polymorphonuclear (its nucleus having three to five lobes connected by slender threads of chromatin, and cytoplasm containing fine granules); neutrophils have the properties of chemotaxis, adherence to immune complexes, and phagocytosis. The counterpart in nonhuman mammals is the heterophil. Called also neutrocyte and neutrophilic leukocyte. 2. any cell, structure, or histologic element readily 1. stainable by neutral dyes.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Neutrophil — Neu tro*phil, Neutrophile Neu tro*phile, n. [L. neuter + Gr. ? loving.] (Physiol.) One of a group of leukocytes whose granules stain only with neutral dyes; it is the chief phagocytic leukocyte in the circulating blood, comprising from 54% to 65% …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • neutrophil — (= neutrophil granulocyte; polymorphonuclear leucocyte; PMN or PMNL) Commonest (2500 7500/mm3 ) blood leucocyte; a short lived phagocytic cell of the myeloid series, which is responsible for the primary cellular response to an acute inflammatory… …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • neutrophil — neutrophil,   Eigenschaft bestimmter Zellen oder Gewebeteile, sich mit neutralen oder alkalischen und sauren Farbstoffen gleichermaßen anfärben zu lassen, z. B. (neutrophile) Granulozyten. * * * neu|tro|phil <Adj.> [zu griech. phileĩn =… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • neutrophil — [no͞o′trōfīl΄, nyo͞o′ trōfīl, no͞o′trəfīl΄, nyo͞o trəfīl΄no͞o′trō fil, nyo͞o′trō fil; no͞o′trəfil, nyo͞o′trəfil] n. [< NEUTRAL + PHIL] a granular type of phagocytic white blood cell in vertebrate blood, stainable by neutral dyes adj. easily… …   English World dictionary

  • neutrophil — I. adjective or neutrophilic Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary neutro (from Latin neutr , neuter neither) + phil Date: circa 1890 staining to the same degree with acid or basic dyes < neutrophil granulocytes > II. noun Date: 1897 a… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • neutrophil — /nooh treuh fil, nyooh /, adj. 1. (of a cell or cell part) having an affinity for neutral dyes. n. 2. a phagocytic white blood cell having a lobulate nucleus and neutrophil granules in the cytoplasm. Also, neutrophile /nooh treuh fuyl , nyooh /.… …   Universalium

  • neutrophil — 1. adjective Being more easily or more fully stained by neutral dyes than by acidic or alkaline (basic) ones. 2. noun Such a cell, especially a white b …   Wiktionary

  • neutrophil — neu•tro•phil [[t]ˈnu trə fɪl, ˈnyu [/t]] also neu•tro•phile [[t] ˌfaɪl[/t]] adj. 1) cbl (of a cell) easily stained with neutral dyes 2) imu a phagocytic white blood cell that contains neutrophil granules • Etymology: 1885–90 …   From formal English to slang

  • neutrophil — /ˈnjutrəfɪl/ (say nyoohtruhfil) adjective 1. (of a cell or cell part) having an affinity for neutral dyes. –noun 2. Anatomy a phagocytic leukocyte having a nucleus and neutrophil granules in the cytoplasm. {neutr(al) + o + phil} …  

  • Neutrophil granulocyte — Neutrophil redirects here. For organisms that grow in neutral pH environments, see neutrophile. Neutrophil granulocyte A neutrophil, stained with Wright s stain.  This cell is approximately 12 µm in diameter …   Wikipedia

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