The mnemonic Never let monkeys eat bananas is important to the understanding of white blood cells for two reasons. Explain the two reasons and meanings of this mnemonic.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The mnemonic “Never let monkeys eat bananas” is a helpful way to remember the order of the different types of white blood cells (WBCs) in the human body. The two main reasons this mnemonic is useful are:
- It helps in remembering the classification of WBCs.
The mnemonic is designed to recall the five types of white blood cells, which are:
- Neutrophils
- Lymphocytes
- Monocytes
- Eosinophils
- Basophils
By following the first letter of each word in the mnemonic, one can easily recall the sequence of white blood cells in the body. The first letter of each type of WBC corresponds to the first letter of the words in the mnemonic, making it an effective memory aid for students and healthcare professionals.
- It highlights the relative abundance of each type of white blood cell.
The mnemonic also emphasizes the typical abundance of each type of WBC in the blood, which decreases as you move down the list:
- Neutrophils are the most abundant, making up around 50-70% of the WBC count.
- Lymphocytes follow, comprising about 20-40%.
- Monocytes are present at around 2-8%.
- Eosinophils usually make up about 1-4%.
- Basophils are the least abundant, representing less than 1%.
Thus, the mnemonic not only assists in recalling the types of white blood cells but also provides insight into their relative frequencies in the bloodstream, which is significant in understanding the role of each cell in immune response. The varying percentages correspond to the function and response of the immune system to various infections or conditions. Neutrophils, for example, are the body’s first line of defense against bacterial infections, while basophils are involved in allergic reactions.
