# Neutrophils --- **Neutrophils** are is a type of [[phagocytosis|phagocytic]] [[white blood cells|granulocyte]], also called **polymorphonuclear** (PMS) or **segs**, on account of their distinctively shaped nucleus of "many shapes strung together"/segmented cells. Neutrophils also carry digestive enzymes and [[antimicrobial substances]]. They are the most abundant granulocyte, and is the predominant component of pus. ![[neutrophils.png]] ## Role of Neutrophils During Inflammation During an [[inflammation]], neutrophils come rushing in following the [[chemotaxis]] initiated by [[macrophages]]. They are relatively short lived, so they die right after they release their granules. The buildup of their bodies is what we call pus. This is eventually cleared up by macrophages. ## Bands & Left Shift **Bands** are immature neutrophils, which are sometimes released into the body as a last resort to fight a big infection. Neutrophils are shortlived cells, they only last like, 8 hours, but they take 8-10 days to produce. So if there is a big infection using up all the neutrophils at once you see a [[white blood cells|left shift]] on a WBC with differential lab. This is also an indication that perhaps the fight isn't going very well. ![[bands.png]] As you can see with the above picture, the bands are named such because the nucleus of the neutrophil has yet to segment. We can also see that they are more "left" on the diagram depicting the maturation of neutrophils, so this is where we get the name, "left shift". ___