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Eosinophil granulocyte facts for kids

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Eosinophil granulocyte
Eosinophil blood smear.JPG
Eosinophil under the microscope (400x) from a peripheral blood smear. Red blood cells surround the eosinophil, two platelets at the top left corner.
Code TH H2.00.04.1.02017

Eosinophil granulocytes, usually called eosinophils or eosinophiles, are granulocyte white blood cells that fight off certain parasites and infections in vertebrates. When they are activated, eosinophils release a cocktail of proteins from their granules, including heparin. Like mast cells and basophils, their main targets are parasites, and they are part causes of the syndromes called asthma and allergy.

Eosinophils make up 1-6% of white blood cells circulating in the body. They are similar in size to neutrophils but have reddish-orange granules (when stained with eosin) and a bilobed nucleus. Eosinophil granulocytes are important defenders against large, multi-cellular parasites, such as worms and flukes. Their numbers increase during a parasitic infection.

Images for kids

  • Histology of an eosinophil in esophageal epithelium

    Histology of an eosinophil within epithelium, characterized by its bilobed nucleus despite scant visible eosinophilic cytoplasm.

  • Reference ranges for blood tests - white blood cells

    Reference ranges for blood tests of white blood cells, comparing eosinophil granulocyte amount (shown in light red) with other cells

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Eosinófilo para niños

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