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Which white blood cells are the body’s main phagocytic cells?
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white blood cell
Blood is made up of multiple components, including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and water-rich plasma.
The body’s main phagocytic cells are two types of white blood cells: neutrophils and macrophages.12
- Neutrophils: These are small, granular leukocytes that act as the body's first line of defense. They circulate in the blood and quickly migrate to sites of infection or injury to ingest bacteria and other foreign particles.123
- Macrophages: Derived from monocytes, these are larger cells that typically arrive at the site of an infection later than neutrophils. They are found throughout the body's tissues and organs—such as the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes—where they scavenge for bacteria, dead cellular material, and other foreign substances.142
Together, these cells play a critical role in the innate immune system by engulfing and digesting harmful invaders, thereby protecting the body from infection.23