adult hemocyte adult plasmatocyte Fig. 11-4, Fig. 11-5, in Biology of Ticks ISBN:0-19-505910-7. Plasmatocytes are relatively small oval, suboval or fusiform cells but without granules. The plasma membrane shows blunt or filamentous projections. They often show prominent inclusion bodies and vacuoles indicative of substances that have been ingested. Plasmatocytes are believed to function as phagocytes and play a major role in phagocytosis. TADS:0000240 TADS:0000240 default_namespace