| eosinocyte | A polymorphonuclear leukocyte characterised by many large or prominent, refractile, cytoplasmic granules that are fairly uniform in size and bright yellow-red or orange when treated with Wright's or similar stains; the nuclei are usually larger than those of neutrophils, do not stain as deeply, and characteristically have two lobes (a third lobe is sometimes interposed on the connecting strand of chromatin); these leukocyte's are motile phagocytes with distinctive antiparasitic functions. Synonym: acidophilic leukocyte, eosinocyte, eosinophil, eosinophile, oxyphil, oxyphile, oxyphilic leukocyte. (05 Mar 2000) |
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