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A large reserve of neutrophils are kept in the bone marrow, how many days worth?

2 Answers

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Final answer:

The exact number of days' worth of neutrophils stored in the bone marrow is not provided. However, neutrophils have a short lifespan of hours to days, and new neutrophils are continuously produced in the bone marrow through a process known as hematopoiesis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The bone marrow serves as a storage site for a reserve of neutrophils, which are a type of leukocyte or white blood cell. Although the exact number of days' worth of neutrophils stored in the bone marrow is not mentioned in the provided information, we do know that the lifespan of leukocytes is relatively short, typically lasting only a few hours to days.

The constant production of new leukocytes, including neutrophils, is a process called hematopoiesis, which occurs under the influence of colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) and interleukins. Neutrophils are the most common leukocytes and play an important role in providing a rapid and nonspecific defense against invading pathogens. Given their crucial role in the immune response and their short lifespan, the bone marrow must continually produce these cells.

2 votes

Final answer:

Neutrophils are the most common leukocytes and are stored in the bone marrow. While the exact reserve duration is not specified in the provided material, most leukocytes live for only hours to weeks, requiring continuous production through hemopoiesis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Neutrophil Reserves in Bone Marrow

Neutrophils play a critical role in the body's immune response and are the most common type of leukocytes, comprising 50-70 percent of the total leukocyte count. They are formed and stored in the bone marrow before being released into the bloodstream to carry out their function of defending against pathogens.

Although the specific number of days worth of neutrophil reserves kept in the bone marrow is not provided in the reference materials, it is known that the lifespan of most blood cells, including leukocytes like neutrophils, ranges from a few hours to a few weeks. This necessitates a steady and continuous process of hemopoiesis to replenish these cells.

The bone marrow has the capacity to quickly replace blood cells, as evidenced by the body's ability to replace plasma within 24 hours after blood donation, although it takes about 4 to 6 weeks to completely replenish the red blood cells. Given the short lifespan of leukocytes, the bone marrow must consistently produce new blood cells to maintain adequate levels in the body for proper immune function.

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