White+Blood+Cells+-+OW

=Introduction= White blood cells are a vital cell, they fight off diseases and keep you healthy. They can be found all over your body. White blood cells are also shaped different from red blood cells; red blood cells do not have pseudopods. Lastly, white blood cells can get diseases too, just like other cells. One disease is lymphoma. = = =What Are White Blood Cells?= toc White blood cells, also known as leukocytes, are produced in bone marrow. **Bone marrow** is the soft tissue inside of your bones. **Leukocytes** are cells that are in your blood and body fluid. They fight diseases and bacteria that are invaders. All leukocytes have a nucleus. Some other types of white blood cells are lymphocytes, granulocytes, macrophages, and monocytes.

The white blood cell travels through your body searching for foreign objects. When they find an invader, depending on the white blood cell type, there are a few ways to get rid of it. When a white blood cell finds an ‘’invader’’ it can either surround the bacteria and store it in the vacuole as ‘’food’’ or create a chemical that destroys the bacteria. The cell can surround the bacteria using pseudopods, and keeps it in the vacuole.

=Where Are White Blood Cells Found?=

White blood cells are created in bone marrow. However, by the time you are an adult the bone marrow cells stop making more marrow cells.

White blood cells travel through your whole body, not just your blood stream. The **bloodstream** is the blood that flows through your body. To attack bacteria the cell can squeeze past other cells. For example white blood cells can travel through your lungs, spleen, lymph glands, body tissue and more. They go in between openings in **blood vessels** so they can move places besides the blood vessel, which carries blood through your body.

For instance, if you had bacteria or some kind of foreign substance in your body, the white blood cell can squeeze past other cells and find it sway to the bacteria instead of always travelling through the bloodstream like red blood cells.

// Shows where the bone marrow is and where white blood cells are made. // // ( [|abc.net.au] ) //

=Different Parts of a White Blood Cell?=

A white blood cell has many important parts, just like other cells.These parts include the nucleus, vacuole, and the pseudopods.

The **nucleu s ** guides the cell like a brain would command the human body. It tells the white blood cell how to fight off invaders. The nucleus also stores the cells DNA.

White blood cells have **vacuoles**, just like plant and animal cells. Once the white blood cell finds bacteria or a foreign substance, it can use the pseudopods and surround the bacteria. It is then stored in the vacuole as food. (see diagram)

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, **pseudopods** are like arms for the white blood cell. They can propel the cell forward then surrounding the bacteria/substance. All these parts working together helps the cell function. //This diagram shows the process of capturing a disease with pseudopods// //( [|livingscience.co.uk] )//

=White and Red Blood Cells=

Although red and white blood cells seem similar, they actually have big differences. First of all, as the name states, the two cells aren't the same color. A red blood cell gets its color from a protein called hemoglobin. White blood cells on the other hand, don't really have a color.

Another characteristic that sets them apart is the size and amount. White blood cells are larger than red blood cells however, there are fewer of them in your bloodstream than red blood cells.One of the most important differences is the fact that red blood cells do not produce antibodies nor do they fight off diseases. White blood cells have to find bacteria and to do that it travels outside of the bloodstream, red blood cells stay inside of your blood vessel.

Red blood cells do not have pseudopods or nuclei. This means that a red blood cell could never be like a white blood cell. White blood cells need a nucleus to directs them and theie pseudopods to fight bacteria.


 * ** __Only White Blood Cells__ ** ||
 * ** white blood cells are larger than red blood cells but there are more red blood cells in your body ** ||
 * ** has a nucleus ** ||
 * ** fights off disease and bacteria ** ||
 * ** has pseudopods ** ||

**Immune System** There are many diseases that affect the immune system an white blood cells. **Lymphoma** is a type of blood cancer that’s in your lymph system. Your white blood cell multiply and spread through your body. It can sometimes be cured by chemotherapy or radiation.

**Multiple myeloma** is also a type of blood cancer. It happens when a plasma cell becomes infectious. The cells multiply and create organ damage.

A group of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow is called **myelodysplastic** syndrome. It progresses slowly but can quickly turn into severe leukemia. Myelodysplastic syndrome can be treated with chemotherapy, blood transfusions, or stem cell transplant.

=Conclusion= White blood cells are extremely important to the immune system, they protect your body from illnesses. For example, next time you're sick just think of everything your white blood cells are doing for your body! First, the white blood cell(s) travel through your body searching for bacteria. Then once the object is found, the cell uses its pseudopods to capture the cell. If you have bacteria in your body while you're sick, the white blood cells are like an army fighting off the germs.


 * REFERENCES **

“Bone Marrow.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia, n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2015. . Padilla, Michael J. Prentice Hall Science Explorer. Teacher’s ed. Needham: Pearson Prentice Hall,, 2005. Print. “White Blood Cells.” Dr Parry’s Website. Dr. Parry, 2005. Web. 23 Jan. 2015. . “Word! White Blood Cells.” Kids Health. Nemours Foundations, 2014. Web. 19 Dec. 2014. .