A type of white blood cell that plays a central role in immune responses. These cells include T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells that help the body fight infections and diseases.
From Greek 'lympha' meaning clear water (referring to lymph fluid) and 'kytos' meaning cell, first coined in the 1890s. The term reflects these cells' abundance in lymphatic tissue and their discovery in lymph fluid before their immune functions were understood.
Lymphocytes are like the body's special forces - they can remember every enemy they've ever encountered and mount faster, stronger attacks upon re-exposure. Some lymphocytes can live for decades, carrying immunological memories from childhood infections!
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