| You are here: | About>Health>Allergies> Glossary of Terms> Basophils |
 | Allergies |
"Basophils"About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board
Definition: A type of white blood cell in the circulation which is characterized by its ability to uptake certain dyes when stained for examination under the microscope (basophils appear blue). Basophils play a part in the allergic response as they have IgE on their surface, and release chemical mediators causing allergic symptoms when the IgE binds to its specific allergen. Pronunciation: ba-so-fil Created: December 11, 2006  About.com is accredited by the Health On the Net Foundation, which promotes reliable and trusted online health information. |
Dealing With Heart DiseaseHeart Disease BasicsCommon SymptomsTreatment OptionsReducing Your RiskWomen and Heart Disease |
All Topics | Email Article | |  |  |
| Advertising Info | News & Events | Work at About | SiteMap | Reprints | Help | Our Story | Be a Guide |
| More from About, Inc.: Calorie Count Plus | UCompareHealthCare User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Corrections | Privacy Policy | ©2008 About, Inc., A part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved. |