In the mnemonic for white blood cells, which cell type corresponds to the first letter N?

In the mnemonic for white blood cells, which cell type corresponds to the first letter N?

• A. Lymphocytes
• B. Monocytes
• C. Eosinophils
• D. Neutrophils

Answer: (D)

The mnemonic used to recall white blood cell types assigns the initials of each cell: N for neutrophils, L for lymphocytes, M for monocytes, E for eosinophils, and B for basophils. So the first letter N points to neutrophils. Neutrophils are the most abundant white blood cells and act as the first responders to bacterial infection, performing rapid phagocytosis and killing of microbes. They have a characteristic multilobed nucleus and a short lifespan, which fits their role as quick, frontline defenders. The other cell types listed—lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils—start with different initials and thus map to their respective letters in the mnemonic, not the N.

The mnemonic used to recall white blood cell types assigns the initials of each cell: N for neutrophils, L for lymphocytes, M for monocytes, E for eosinophils, and B for basophils. So the first letter N points to neutrophils. Neutrophils are the most abundant white blood cells and act as the first responders to bacterial infection, performing rapid phagocytosis and killing of microbes. They have a characteristic multilobed nucleus and a short lifespan, which fits their role as quick, frontline defenders. The other cell types listed—lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils—start with different initials and thus map to their respective letters in the mnemonic, not the N.