What is the primary function of white blood cells?

What is the primary function of white blood cells?

• A. To produce antibodies for the immune response
• B. To transport oxygen throughout the body
• C. To defend against infection and disease
• D. To facilitate nutrient transport in the blood

Answer: (C)

The primary function of white blood cells, also known as leukocytes, is to defend the body against infection and disease. These cells are a crucial component of the immune system, playing a vital role in identifying and responding to pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. White blood cells recognize foreign substances in the body and activate various immune responses, including the production of antibodies, phagocytosis (engulfing pathogens), and the release of signaling molecules that coordinate the immune response. While the production of antibodies is indeed a function associated with certain types of white blood cells, such as B lymphocytes, it is part of a broader defensive role rather than the sole purpose of all white blood cells. The transportation of oxygen is a function performed by red blood cells, not white blood cells. Likewise, facilitating nutrient transport in the blood is primarily the role of plasma and red blood cells. Therefore, the defining characteristic of white blood cells is their fundamental role in immune defense.

The primary function of white blood cells, also known as leukocytes, is to defend the body against infection and disease. These cells are a crucial component of the immune system, playing a vital role in identifying and responding to pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. White blood cells recognize foreign substances in the body and activate various immune responses, including the production of antibodies, phagocytosis (engulfing pathogens), and the release of signaling molecules that coordinate the immune response.

While the production of antibodies is indeed a function associated with certain types of white blood cells, such as B lymphocytes, it is part of a broader defensive role rather than the sole purpose of all white blood cells. The transportation of oxygen is a function performed by red blood cells, not white blood cells. Likewise, facilitating nutrient transport in the blood is primarily the role of plasma and red blood cells. Therefore, the defining characteristic of white blood cells is their fundamental role in immune defense.