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Definition

noun, plural: white blood corpuscles

Any of the freely floating formed elements in the blood characterized by the lack of hemoglobin, colorlessness and the presence of nucleus. Its major function involves the immune system, protecting the body against invading microorganisms and foreign particles.

Supplement

These cells include the lymphocytes, macrophages, monocytes and granulocytes. Elevated counts of white blood corpuscles or cells indicate inflammation or infection. In adult humans, the normal range is 4500 to 11 000 per mm³.

Word origin: corpuscle » Latin corpusculum, diminutive of corpus, body.

Synonyms:

• leukocyte
• white blood cell (or WBC)
• white corpuscle
• white cell

Compare: red blood cell
See also: basophils, coelomocytes, eosinophils, haemocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes.

Related terms:

• White blood cell differential
• White blood cell count