Which white blood cell is the most abundant in normal human blood?

Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cells in normal human blood, comprising approximately 50-70% of the total white blood cell count. They play a crucial role in the immune response by responding quickly to infection, particularly bacterial infections, and are key players in inflammation and the body's first line of defense.

Neutrophils are characterized by their segmented nuclei and granular cytoplasm, which distinguishes them from other types of white blood cells. Their primary function involves phagocytosis, where they engulf and digest microorganisms and foreign particles.

The other types of white blood cells, while important for immune function, do not reach the levels of abundance seen in neutrophils. Monocytes, lymphocytes, and basophils each serve specialized functions in the immune response, but their proportions in the bloodstream are significantly lower compared to neutrophils. For example, lymphocytes are critical for adaptive immunity, monocytes differentiate into macrophages and dendritic cells, and basophils are involved in allergic responses, but none of these surpass the number of neutrophils under normal circumstances.