mast leukocyte


mast leukocyte

(1) Mast cell. 
(2) Basophil.

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.