Final answer:
The two major types of white blood cells are granular leukocytes and agranular leukocytes, which comprise lymphocytes and monocytes. Agranular leukocytes have less visible granules compared to granular leukocytes that have abundant granules and typically lobed nuclei.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on their structure, the two major types of white blood cells are granular leukocytes and agranular leukocytes. Agranular leukocytes contain smaller, less visible granules in their cytoplasm compared to granular leukocytes.
The main types of agranular leukocytes are lymphocytes and monocytes. Lymphocytes are essential for your body's immune response, whilst monocytes, which mature into macrophages, play a crucial role in phagocytosis (engulfing and digesting particles).
On the other hand, granular leukocytes are characterized by their abundant granules and typically lobed nucleus. This group includes neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils, which are distinguished by the type of stain that highlights their granules. These white blood cells have a variety of functions including inflammation response and fighting infections.