mast leukocyte


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mast leukocyte

(1) Mast cell. 
(2) Basophil.
Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

ba·so·phil·ic leu·ko·cyte

(bā'sō-fil'ik lū'kō-sīt)
A polymorphonuclear leukocyte characterized by many large, coarse, metachromatic granules (dark purple or blue-black with Wright stain) that usually fill the cytoplasm and may almost mask the nucleus; they usually do not occur in increased numbers as the result of acute infectious disease; the granules, which contain heparin and histamine, may degranulate in response to hypersensitivity reactions and can be of significance in general inflammation.
Synonym(s): mast leukocyte.
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
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