Lymphocytes are part of leukocytes, but they are different from each other as they both have different functions in our body.
Key Takeaways
- Lymphocytes and leukocytes are white blood cells that play important roles in the immune system.
- Lymphocytes are responsible for targeted immunity, while leukocytes play a broader role in fighting infections.
- While leukocytes are more common in the blood, lymphocytes are mostly found in lymphatic tissues.
Lymphocytes vs. Leukocytes
Leukocytes are cells that help the body fight infection and disease. They can be further categorized into two main groups: granulocytes and agranulocytes. Lymphocytes are produced in the bone marrow and can be found in the blood, lymph nodes, and lymphatic tissue. There are three main types of lymphocytes: B cells, T cells, and natural killer cells.
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A lymphocyte is a white blood cell made in bone and marrow and generally found in lymph tissue and blood.
It is part of an immune system with two main types B cells and T cells b cells can make antibodies that can attack viruses, bacteria, and toxins. T cells help to control the immune system and kill tumors.
A leukocyte is defined as a part of the immune system in a body that helps the body fight diseases and infections.
Some leukocytes are monocytes, lymphocytes (T and B cells, also known as WBC or white blood cells), and granulocytes (basophils, neutrophils, and eosinophils).
Comparison Table
| Parameter of Comparison | Lymphocytes | Leukocytes |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that are made in the bone marrow and generally found in lymph tissue and blood. | Leukocyte is a part of the immune system that helps the body fight diseases and other infections. |
| Types of immunity | Lymphocytes take responsibility for the adaptive immune system. | Leukocytes without lymphocytes are responsible for innate immunity in the human body. |
| Subtypes | Lymphocytes are divided into T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes, which prevent the body from attacking viruses and controlling the immune system. | There are five types of leukocytes: lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, eosinophils, and neutrophils. |
| Stem cells | Lymphocytes are the cells that arise from the stem cell line, which are called progenitor cells or lymphoid. | Leukocytes are the cells that arise from the stem cell line, except lymphocyte cells are called myeloid stem cells. |
| Granulocytes or Agranulocytes | Lymphocytes are also known as agranulocytes. | Some leukocytes are believed to be agranulocytes, and some leukocytes are granulocytes. |
What are Lymphocytes?
A lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell in the human body’s immune system. Lymphocytes have three major types, which are T cells (thymus cell), B cells (bone cell), and Natural killers (NK).
Natural killer cells are a type of cell toxic lymphocyte representing one of the major components of the inherent immune system. NK cells also reject cells that are infected by viruses and tumors.
Natural killers work as the process of programmed cell death or apoptosis. They are called NK because they do not need activation to kill cells. Another type of lymphocyte is T cells play a crucial role in cell-mediated immunity.
T-cell receptors can differentiate from other lymphocyte types.
A thymus, a specialized organ in the immune system, is mainly responsible for the T-cell’s maturation. There are six different T cells: natural killer T cells, gamma delta T cells, cytotoxic T cells, helper T cells, regulatory T cells, and memory T cells.
Lastly, B cells, also known as bone cells, play a part in humoral immunity. B cells make antibodies and antigens and perform the part of antigen-presenting cells.
It is believed that in mammals, immature B cells are made in the bone marrow from where its name is derived.
What are Leukocytes?
A leukocyte is believed to be the scientific name of a white blood cell. It is a cell that protects our body from different diseases in different ways.
The red bone marrow stem cell, which is also known as hemocytoblasts, gives form to generally all white cells while others are formed in a lymphatic system. Leukocytes can also be called leucocytes.
It is a cell in the immune system that protects the body from infectious diseases and foreign invaders. The white cells are made from the multipotent cells in the bone marrow, called hematopoietic stem cells.
Different types of white blood cells are classified into two majors: granulocytes and agranulocytes. There are three types of white blood cells under granulocytes: neutrophils that ingest foreign contaminants in the body.
Some common white blood cells are basophils, which help inflammation, and eosinophils, which are moderate allergic reactions. In contrast, two white blood cells under agranulocytes are lymphocytes and monocytes, which consume bacteria.
Main Differences Between Lymphocytes and Leukocytes
- Both lymphocytes and leukocytes are the white blood cells in a body.
- Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that is made in the bone marrow and generally found in lymph tissue and blood. On the other hand, Leukocytes are a part of the immune system that helps the body fight diseases and other infections.
- There are three different types of lymphocytes. On the other hand, there are five different types of leukocytes.
- Lymphocytes are divided into T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes, which prevent the body from attacking viruses and controlling the immune system. On the other hand, five different types of leukocytes are lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, eosinophils, and neutrophils.
- Lymphocytes, also known as agranulocytes, means they only consist of agranulocytes. Some leukocytes are believed to be agranulocytes, and some leukocytes are granulocytes.
- https://ashpublications.org/blood/article-abstract/23/6/811/37857
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579119325052
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
