Which statement about neutrophils is true?

Which statement about neutrophils is true?

• A. This is an agranulocyte
• B. This cell becomes a macrophage in the tissue
• C. This is a large neutrophil
• D. This is the most numerous granulocyte in the blood

Answer: (D)

Neutrophils are a type of granulocyte and make up the largest portion of white blood cells in the bloodstream, typically about half to two-thirds of circulating leukocytes. That fundamental fact is what makes the statement true: they are the most numerous granulocytes in the blood. Their primary job is to act quickly at sites of infection, migrating into tissues to phagocytose bacteria and release antimicrobial substances. They are not agranulocytes—those include lymphocytes and monocytes—and they do not become macrophages in tissue; macrophages arise from monocytes that enter tissues and differentiate. They are not described as a “large” neutrophil as a distinct category; neutrophils are generally of a standard size.

Neutrophils are a type of granulocyte and make up the largest portion of white blood cells in the bloodstream, typically about half to two-thirds of circulating leukocytes. That fundamental fact is what makes the statement true: they are the most numerous granulocytes in the blood. Their primary job is to act quickly at sites of infection, migrating into tissues to phagocytose bacteria and release antimicrobial substances. They are not agranulocytes—those include lymphocytes and monocytes—and they do not become macrophages in tissue; macrophages arise from monocytes that enter tissues and differentiate. They are not described as a “large” neutrophil as a distinct category; neutrophils are generally of a standard size.