Basophils

Basophils are the least numerous of the circulating leukocytcs, constituting 1% of the white blood cells of healthy adults. Like other white blood cells, basophils may leave the circulation, but they are capable of only very limited ameboid movement and phagocytosis in the tissues. Extravascular basophils are found most often at sites of inflammation and may be the major cell type at sites of cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity. Despite structural and functional similarities between basophils and mast cells, these cells are not the same and are distinguishable on the basis of ultrastructure. blood histology