| white blood cell | <haematology> White corpuscles in the blood. They are spherical, colourless and nucleated masses involved with host defenses. Normal white blood cell counts are variable with age and sex. Normal adult range is 4, 500 to 11,000 cells per cubic millimetre of blood. Slightly higher counts are seen in children. Elevated counts can be seen in cases of inflammation and infection. See: leucocytes, basophils, coelomocytes, eosinophils, haemocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes. Acronym: WBC (13 Nov 1997) |
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| white blood cell cast | A urinary cast composed of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, characteristic of tubulointerstitial disease, especially pyelonephritis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| white blood cell count | <haematology> A laboratory test which measures the number of white blood cells per cubic millimetre of blood. Normal white blood cell counts are variable with age and sex. Normal adult range is 4, 500 to 11,000 cells per cubic millimetre of blood. Slightly higher counts are seen in children. Elevated counts can be seen in cases of inflammation and infection. (13 Nov 1997) |
| white blood cell differential | <haematology> The white blood cell differential is a percentage of each type of white blood cell based on a count of 100 white cells. A change in the white blood cell type (to neutrophils or bands) can indicate a bacterial infection. Neutrophils, bands, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils and eosinophils are all included. (13 Nov 1997) |
| white blood cells | White blood cells (WBCs) are cells which circulate in the blood and lymphatic system and harbor in the lymph glands and spleen. They are part of the immune system responsible for both directly (t cells and macrophages) and indirectly (B-cells producing antibodies) attacking foreign invaders of the body. (12 Dec 1998) |
| white cell cast | A cast in the urine composed of white blood cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| white commissure | A narrow band of white substance bordering on the anterior median fissure of the spinal cord in front of the anterior gray commissure, and consisting of nerve fibres crossing over from one half of the spinal cord to the other. Synonym: commissura alba, anterior white commissure, commissura ventralis alba, ventral white column. (05 Mar 2000) |
| white corpuscle | Any type of leukocyte. (05 Mar 2000) |
| white diarrhoea | An infectious disease of chicks and other young birds caused by the bacterium Salmonella pullorum, which is carried in the ovaries of adult hens and appears in the eggs; in incubator-hatched birds, the disease usually involves the lungs and air sacs, but often spreads in flocks of young birds as an alimentary tract infection manifested by severe diarrhoea followed by septicaemia and death. Synonym: diarrhoea alba, white diarrhoea. (05 Mar 2000) |
| white-ear | <zoology> The wheatear. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| white-eye | <zoology> Any one of several species of small Old World singing of the genus Zosterops, as Zosterops palpebrosus of India, and Z. Coerulescens of Australia. The eyes are encircled by a ring of white feathers, whence the name. Synonym: bush creeper, and white-eyed tit. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| white fat | <anatomy> Connective tissue that has been specialised to store fat. See: adipocyte. (25 Jun 1999) |
| white fibre | White mammalian muscle fibres; larger in diameter than red fibres they have less myoglobin, sarcoplasm, and mitochondria, and contract more quickly. Synonym: collagen fibre. (05 Mar 2000) |
| white fingers | An occupational disease occurring in operators of pneumatic hammers who are exposed to cold. (05 Mar 2000) |
| white-foot | <veterinary> A white mark on the foot of a horse, between the fetlock and the coffin. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |