What do leukocytes do?

What do leukocytes do?

• A. Protect the body against pathogens.
• B. Transport oxygen and carbon dioxide.
• C. Facilitate digestion in the stomach.
• D. Regulate blood glucose levels.

Answer: (A)

Leukocytes are white blood cells whose main job is to defend the body against pathogens. They patrol the bloodstream and tissues, recognize foreign invaders, and respond with tactics like phagocytosis (ingesting microbes), releasing chemical signals that summon more immune cells, and, for lymphocytes, producing antibodies or directly attacking infected cells. This immune action is separate from red blood cells, whose job is to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide; it’s also different from stomach digestion or hormone-regulated glucose, which involve other systems. So, leukocytes primarily protect the body against pathogens through both innate and adaptive immune responses.

Leukocytes are white blood cells whose main job is to defend the body against pathogens. They patrol the bloodstream and tissues, recognize foreign invaders, and respond with tactics like phagocytosis (ingesting microbes), releasing chemical signals that summon more immune cells, and, for lymphocytes, producing antibodies or directly attacking infected cells. This immune action is separate from red blood cells, whose job is to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide; it’s also different from stomach digestion or hormone-regulated glucose, which involve other systems. So, leukocytes primarily protect the body against pathogens through both innate and adaptive immune responses.