A blood cell, also called a hematocyte,
is a cell produced by hematopoiesis and normally found in blood. In mammals, these fall into three
general categories:
is a cell produced by hematopoiesis and normally found in blood. In mammals, these fall into three
general categories:
Together, these three kinds
of blood cells add up to a total 45% of the blood tissue by volume, with the
remaining 55% of the volume composed of plasma, the liquid component of
blood. This volume percentage (e.g., 45%) of cells to total volume is called hematocrit, determined by centrifuge or flow cytometry. Hemoglobin (the main component of red
blood cells) is an iron-containing protein that
facilitates transportation of oxygen from the lungs to tissues and carbon dioxide from tissues to the lungs.
of blood cells add up to a total 45% of the blood tissue by volume, with the
remaining 55% of the volume composed of plasma, the liquid component of
blood. This volume percentage (e.g., 45%) of cells to total volume is called hematocrit, determined by centrifuge or flow cytometry. Hemoglobin (the main component of red
blood cells) is an iron-containing protein that
facilitates transportation of oxygen from the lungs to tissues and carbon dioxide from tissues to the lungs.
Life span of blood cells.
Red Blood Cells
Red blood cells have a lifetime of about 120 days
White Blood Cells
They
live for about 3 to 4 days in the average human body.
live for about 3 to 4 days in the average human body.
Platelets
The
average lifespan of a platelet is normally just 5 to 9 days.
average lifespan of a platelet is normally just 5 to 9 days.
Their Range in the Blood
Range of Red Blood Cells
The
normal range in men is approximately 4.7 to 6.1 million cells/ul (microliter).
The normal range in women range from 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/ul,
normal range in men is approximately 4.7 to 6.1 million cells/ul (microliter).
The normal range in women range from 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/ul,
Range of White Blood Cells
The
normal range of white blood cells is 3.5-10.5 billion cells/L
(3,500 to 10,500 cells/mcL)
normal range of white blood cells is 3.5-10.5 billion cells/L
(3,500 to 10,500 cells/mcL)
Range of Platelets
The normal range of
platelets is 150 – 450 billion/L (150,000 to 50,000/mcL)
platelets is 150 – 450 billion/L (150,000 to 50,000/mcL)
Functions Red Blood Cells
·
Red blood cells contain hemoglobin
which is a respiratory pigment, which
binds to either oxygen or carbon dioxide.
Red blood cells contain hemoglobin
which is a respiratory pigment, which
binds to either oxygen or carbon dioxide.
·
This allows oxygen to be
transported around our body to our tissues and organs (and carbon dioxide to be
taken away).
This allows oxygen to be
transported around our body to our tissues and organs (and carbon dioxide to be
taken away).
·
Hemoglobin is largely
comprised of iron, which when combined with oxygen, gives blood its red color.
Hemoglobin is largely
comprised of iron, which when combined with oxygen, gives blood its red color.
·
Red blood cell blood helps
cycle nutrients and hormones throughout our bodies.
Red blood cell blood helps
cycle nutrients and hormones throughout our bodies.
Functions White Blood Cells
There are five different
types of white blood cells, or leukocytes, in our bodies, and we can break them
up into two main categories. These are granulocytes
and agranulocytes. These terms
simply refer to how these cells look when stained. Granulocytes have visible
granules in their cell bodies, and agranulocytes do not. There are three types
of granulocytes. They are neutrophils, eosinophils
and basophils.
types of white blood cells, or leukocytes, in our bodies, and we can break them
up into two main categories. These are granulocytes
and agranulocytes. These terms
simply refer to how these cells look when stained. Granulocytes have visible
granules in their cell bodies, and agranulocytes do not. There are three types
of granulocytes. They are neutrophils, eosinophils
and basophils.
Neutrophils
Neutrophils are the most
abundant type of white blood cell in our body. These are primarily responsible
for killing off foreign bacteria. Neutrophils are the first responders when we
are injured or sick, and they help keep us healthy by phagocytizing (or consuming)
bacteria in our bodies.
abundant type of white blood cell in our body. These are primarily responsible
for killing off foreign bacteria. Neutrophils are the first responders when we
are injured or sick, and they help keep us healthy by phagocytizing (or consuming)
bacteria in our bodies.
Eosinophils
Eosinophils are responsible
for fighting infections of parasitic worms. These cells release toxins that
kill the worms and are also involved in the inflammatory response when we have
an allergic reaction.
for fighting infections of parasitic worms. These cells release toxins that
kill the worms and are also involved in the inflammatory response when we have
an allergic reaction.
Basophils
Basophils release two
chemicals, histamine and heparin. Histamine is also involved in
allergic reactions, and heparin is an anticoagulant. Anticoagulants keep blood
from clotting, which helps bring more blood to a damaged area in our body,
which, in turn, helps promote healing.
chemicals, histamine and heparin. Histamine is also involved in
allergic reactions, and heparin is an anticoagulant. Anticoagulants keep blood
from clotting, which helps bring more blood to a damaged area in our body,
which, in turn, helps promote healing.
The two remaining types of
leukocytes are agranulocytes. These are monocytes and lymphocytes.
leukocytes are agranulocytes. These are monocytes and lymphocytes.
Monocytes
Monocytes are the largest
of the white blood cells. These are the cells that ‘clean up’ our blood the
most. Monocytes also employ phagocytosis to ‘eat’ foreign particles, bacteria
and dead neutrophils.
of the white blood cells. These are the cells that ‘clean up’ our blood the
most. Monocytes also employ phagocytosis to ‘eat’ foreign particles, bacteria
and dead neutrophils.
Lymphocytes
Effector lymphocytes function to eliminate the antigen, either by
releasing antibodies (in the case of B cells), cytotoxic granules (cytotoxic T
cells) or by signaling to other cells of the immune system (helper T cells).
releasing antibodies (in the case of B cells), cytotoxic granules (cytotoxic T
cells) or by signaling to other cells of the immune system (helper T cells).
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Function Platelets
The principal function of platelets is to prevent bleeding. Red blood
cells are the most numerous blood cell, about 5,000,000 per microliter.
cells are the most numerous blood cell, about 5,000,000 per microliter.
