Which type of white blood cell surrounds foreign bodies as part of the inflammatory response?

The correct answer is monocytes, which are a type of white blood cell that plays a vital role in the immune response, particularly during inflammation. Monocytes are larger cells that can migrate into tissues, where they differentiate into macrophages or dendritic cells. As part of the inflammatory response, monocytes are attracted to sites of infection or injury, where they surround and engulf foreign bodies, including pathogens and debris, through a process known as phagocytosis.

While neutrophils and phagocytes also participate in engulfing foreign substances, monocytes specifically are responsible for the arrival of larger immune cells that can consume a greater volume of material and can survive longer in the tissues compared to neutrophils. This ability makes them important for both the immediate response to infection and for cleaning up after the inflammatory process has begun to resolve.

Understanding the role of monocytes in the inflammatory response helps clarify their essential function in maintaining the body’s defenses against infection and supporting tissue repair.