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lymphocyte (lim´fo-sīt)   any of the mononuclear nonphagocytic leukocytes found in the blood, lymph, and lymphoid tissues; they comprise the body's immunocytes and their precursors. They are divided into two classes, B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes, responsible respectively for humoral immunity and cellular immunity. Most are small lymphocytes that have a round or slightly indented, mottled nucleus filling almost the entire cell. When activated by contact with antigen, small lymphocytes begin to expand and change; their cytoplasm enlarges and the nucleus becomes less mottled; they are then referred to as large lymphocytes or lymphoblasts. These cells then multiply and become a variety of specialized cells (memory cells, plasma cells, helper cells, cytotoxic cells, and suppressor cells). adj., lymphocyt´ic., adj.




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