Granulocytes

Granulocytes are a type of leucocytes (i.e. white blood cells). They are also known as polymorphonucleocytes.

Granulocytes (or ' polymorphonucleocytes ') are distinguished from the other category of leucocytes - which are called agranulocytes, because granulocytes contain chemical-filled cytoplasmic vesicles called granules.

There are three important types of granulocytes:

• basophils
• neutrophils
• eosinophils

The most important functions of granulocytes (a type of white blood cells) are immune functions.

For more information about other components (sometimes called the 'constituents') of blood, see the page about the structure and functions of blood. This may interest students of holistic massage, reflexology, beauty therapies, or health-related courses.