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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Leucocyte
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INFOTEXT
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1992-09-03
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A white blood cell. Leucocytes are part of
the body's defences and give immunity against
disease. There are several different types.
Some (phagocytes and macrophages) engulf
invading microorganisms, others kill infected
cells, while lymphocytes produce more
specific immune responses. Human blood
contains about 11,000 leucocytes to the cubic
millimetre - about one to every 500 red
cells. Leucocyte numbers may be reduced
(leucopenia) by starvation, pernicious
anaemia, and certain infections, such as
typhoid and malaria. An increase in the
numbers (leucocytosis) is a reaction to
normal events such as digestion, exertion,
and pregnancy, and to abnormal ones such as
loss of blood, cancer, and most infections.