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White Blood Cells (WBCs) NEET 2023: Basophil Answer

NEET 2023 Biology Human Physiology White Blood Cells (WBCs)

By Founder, JEEnius - IIT Kanpur Alumni · Nov 12, 2026 · 4 min read

Medium 1 min target

Which of the following statements are correct?

A. Basophils are most abundant cells of the total WBCs
B. Basophils secrete histamine, serotonin and heparin
C. Basophils are involved in inflammatory response
D. Basophils have kidney shaped nucleus
E. Basophils are agranulocytes

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(1) D and E only
(2) C and E only
(3) B and C only
(4) A and B only

Show answerAnswer

B) Basophils secrete histamine, serotonin and heparin

C) Basophils are involved in inflammatory response

Explanation

Option (3) is the answer because basophils secrete histamine, serotonin, heparin etc. and are involved in inflammatory response.

Option (2) is not the answer because basophils are granulocytes.

Option (4) is not the answer because neutrophils are the most abundant cells (60–65 %) of the total WBCs whereas basophils are least (0.5–1%) abundant of all WBCs.

Option (1) is not the answer because monocytes have a kidney-shaped nucleus.

Watch the full solution, worked step by step.

What is the correct answer to the white blood cells question in NEET 2023?

Option (3), B and C only, is correct for the white blood cells (WBCs) NEET 2023 question. Basophils secrete histamine, serotonin and heparin, and participate in inflammation. The source is NEET UG 2023 Biology, under Human Physiology. “Medium difficulty” is the question bank’s classification, not an official NEET rating.

The task is to decide which claims accurately describe basophils:

  • A: Basophils outnumber every other WBC type.
  • B: Their secretions include histamine, serotonin and heparin.
  • C: They take part in the inflammatory response.
  • D: Their nucleus is kidney-shaped.
  • E: They belong to the agranulocyte group.

Choose one numbered combination:

Answer: option (3), B and C only.

A–E are statement labels; 1–4 are selectable answer-option numbers. Select one numbered option, not two separate answers labelled B and C.

Why are statements B and C true for basophils?

The official solution identifies option (3): B is true because basophils secrete histamine, serotonin and heparin; C is true because basophils participate in the inflammatory response. These facts verify both members of the pair. They test different properties of the same cell, so each statement needs its own judgement.

  • B tests secretions. All three named substances belong to the basophil secretion list supplied in the solution. The statement is therefore true.
  • C tests function. Basophils are involved in inflammation. This statement is also true; it does not conflict with the secretion statement.

The verified pair, B and C, corresponds to option (3). Recognising these facts establishes the answer, while checking A, D and E confirms that the word “only” is justified.

Why are options (2), (4) and (1) incorrect?

Each alternative includes at least one false statement. Following the official solution’s order, reject option (2) using classification, option (4) using abundance, and option (1) using nuclear shape. A correct fact in a pair cannot compensate for an incorrect one.

  • Reject option (2), C and E only. C is true: basophils participate in inflammation. E is false: basophils are granulocytes, not agranulocytes.
  • Reject option (4), A and B only. B is true, but A is false. Neutrophils, not basophils, are the most abundant WBCs. Basophils are the least abundant.

The supplied abundance comparison is:

Neutrophils: 60–65% of total WBCs
Basophils: 0.5–1% of total WBCs
  • Reject option (1), D and E only. The kidney-shaped nucleus belongs to monocytes, making D false. E is already false because basophils are granulocytes. Both statements in this option are false.

Keep each correction attached to its property. Highest abundance identifies neutrophils; the kidney-shaped nucleus identifies monocytes.

Statement audit: A false; B true; C true; D false; E false.

The single selectable answer remains option (3). B and C identify its true statements, not separate selections.

How can checking only half of option (2) lead to a wrong answer?

Accepting C without testing E makes option (2) look valid when it is not. One wrong route is to recognise that basophils participate in inflammation, mark C true, and select the option containing it. That stops the check halfway through the pair.

Knowing a cell’s function does not establish its classification. Inflammation is a function; granulocyte or agranulocyte is a classification. Each requires its own true-or-false judgement.

E disqualifies option (2) because basophils are granulocytes. Its correct statement C cannot rescue its false statement E.

Mark all five statements true or false before matching the complete set to an option. Verify every member of the proposed pair before selecting it.

Which WBC facts should you apply in these three practice questions?

Use neutrophils for highest abundance, basophils for lowest abundance, and monocytes for a kidney-shaped nucleus. Basophils are also granulocytes involved in inflammation. These are original practice questions from Human Physiology, not additional NEET PYQs or verified past-paper extracts. Cover each answer before attempting it.

Original practice question 1: Which pairing gives the most abundant WBC first and the least abundant second?

Answer: (1), neutrophils/basophils. Their respective shares are:

60–65%versus0.5–1%

Apply those ranges to an illustrative total of 1,000 WBCs. This is a calculation example, not a measured blood sample.

Neutrophils=60100×1000 to 65100×1000=600–650
Basophils=0.5100×1000 to 1100×1000=5–10

Original practice question 2: Which WBC has the kidney-shaped nucleus used to reject statement D?

Answer: (3), monocyte. The kidney-shaped nucleus belongs to monocytes, not basophils. Statement D assigns the feature to the wrong cell.

Original practice question 3: Which description correctly combines basophil classification and function?

Answer: (1), granulocyte involved in inflammation. Both parts are true. Option (2) misclassifies basophils; option (3) assigns them neutrophil abundance; option (4) combines a wrong classification with the monocyte nuclear feature.

Cover the solutions and write one correction beside each original false statement: A, D and E. Then match the true statements to the numbered answer.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the correct answer to the WBC question in NEET 2023?

The correct answer is option (3), B and C only. Basophils secrete histamine, serotonin and heparin and participate in inflammation. B and C are statement labels, so select the single numbered option (3).

Are basophils granulocytes or agranulocytes?

Basophils are granulocytes, not agranulocytes. This makes statement E false in the NEET 2023 question and rules out option (2), even though its other statement about inflammation is true.

Which WBCs are the most and least abundant?

Neutrophils are the most abundant WBCs, accounting for 60–65% of the total. Basophils are the least abundant, accounting for 0.5–1%.

Which WBC has a kidney-shaped nucleus?

Monocytes have a kidney-shaped nucleus. Statement D in the NEET 2023 question is false because it assigns this feature to basophils.

basophilshuman physiologyneet 2023neet biologywhite blood cells

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