Blood is one of the smallest connective tissues in the body, but spans the whole body at the same time and without blood, we would cease to exist. There are many different functions of blood, but blood isn't JUST blood. Blood has different components; those being white blood cells, red blood cells, and plasma.
Red Blood Cells
As you can see from the above picture, red blood cells look like normal round cells, but with a major difference. They are anucleated, meaning in greek/latin, "without a nucleus." Since blood has no nucleus it lasts a lot less longer than the usual cell. The average lifetime of a red blood cell is 90 to 120 days. This is because when the cell is going throughout the body it is being bumped around and without the nucleus to be able to repair it, it gets bumped and bruised so much that eventually it has to be destroyed.
Blood starts off in the bone marrow, where when erythropoietin is released it makes the bone marrow make more red blood cells. The red blood cells are then sent throughout the body to do it's job as a anaerobic oxygen carrier. When the blood is sent out of the bone marrow, it is deoxygenated. So in order to do it's job, it must go through the heart to be sent to the lungs where it disbands the CO2 in your system and obtains the oxygen then sent through the body once again. It does this over and over and over until it's time for the red blood cell to be recycled. When the lifetime of the red blood cell is up, white blood cells (called phagocytes who also monitor the health of the red blood cells) engulf the damaged red blood cells. When engulfed, the hemoglobin fragments inside the cells are recycled. This usually happens in the liver, spleen, or bone marrow. Sometimes though, the red blood cells burst before they are engulfed. When this happens they are pushed to the kidney's to be urinated out.
Blood starts off in the bone marrow, where when erythropoietin is released it makes the bone marrow make more red blood cells. The red blood cells are then sent throughout the body to do it's job as a anaerobic oxygen carrier. When the blood is sent out of the bone marrow, it is deoxygenated. So in order to do it's job, it must go through the heart to be sent to the lungs where it disbands the CO2 in your system and obtains the oxygen then sent through the body once again. It does this over and over and over until it's time for the red blood cell to be recycled. When the lifetime of the red blood cell is up, white blood cells (called phagocytes who also monitor the health of the red blood cells) engulf the damaged red blood cells. When engulfed, the hemoglobin fragments inside the cells are recycled. This usually happens in the liver, spleen, or bone marrow. Sometimes though, the red blood cells burst before they are engulfed. When this happens they are pushed to the kidney's to be urinated out.
White Blood Cells
White blood cells come in many different shapes, forms, and types. They all have the responsibility to keep the body healthy though. They are meant to fight diseases, but are outnumbered by red blood cells 700 to 1. White blood cells are also called leukocytes. There are five different kinds of white blood cells though. They are as follows: lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and neutrophils.
Lymphocytes
They are the second most abundant form of white blood cells in the human body. Their cytoplasm is usually a pale blue and their nucleus is nearly as large as the cell itself. The cell is slightly larger than a red blood cells. Lymphocytes produce antibodies and fight tumors and viruses.
Neutrophils
They are the most abundant form of white blood cells in the human body. These cells usually contain a nucleus with 3-7 lobes. Cytoplasm usually is pale-pink when stained and are phagocytes. The main function for Neutrophils are to help cure acute infections.
Monocytes
Monocytes are the third most abundant form of white blood cells and have a cytoplasm the color of a pale-blue. It's Nucleus is often kidney shaped and is a phagocyte. They are very large cells and are meant to function in long-term diseases.
Eosinophils
The fourth most abundant white blood cell, eosinophils have many granules and have a red cytoplasm. Their nucleus is a figure 8 or 2 lobed nucleus. They mainly kill parasitic worms that happen to find their way into our bodies.
Basophils
The least common white blood cell holds a cytoplasm stain of dark blue. Their nucleus is U or S-shaped and they hold large dark purple granules. When all else fails with the other white blood cells, the basophils are called upon. This usually happens with allergens.
Plasma
Plasma makes up more than half of the blood supply in our bodies. Plasma is over 90% water, 6 to 8% proteins, and 2 to 4% salts, lipids and glucose. Plasma has several important functions including dissolving materials, participating in immune defense and delivering substances to tissues for growth and survival. Of all these roles the primary function of plasma is transport; plasma is constantly moving water, nutrients and waste to and from cells. Because plasma is mostly water, an excellent solvent, a wide variety of substances can dissolve easily into plasma. Plasma carries salts, sugars such as glucose, amino acids, cholesterol, hormones and waste throughout the body to and from body tissues. These solvent and transportation duties are vital to human health.
Lymphocytes
They are the second most abundant form of white blood cells in the human body. Their cytoplasm is usually a pale blue and their nucleus is nearly as large as the cell itself. The cell is slightly larger than a red blood cells. Lymphocytes produce antibodies and fight tumors and viruses.
Neutrophils
They are the most abundant form of white blood cells in the human body. These cells usually contain a nucleus with 3-7 lobes. Cytoplasm usually is pale-pink when stained and are phagocytes. The main function for Neutrophils are to help cure acute infections.
Monocytes
Monocytes are the third most abundant form of white blood cells and have a cytoplasm the color of a pale-blue. It's Nucleus is often kidney shaped and is a phagocyte. They are very large cells and are meant to function in long-term diseases.
Eosinophils
The fourth most abundant white blood cell, eosinophils have many granules and have a red cytoplasm. Their nucleus is a figure 8 or 2 lobed nucleus. They mainly kill parasitic worms that happen to find their way into our bodies.
Basophils
The least common white blood cell holds a cytoplasm stain of dark blue. Their nucleus is U or S-shaped and they hold large dark purple granules. When all else fails with the other white blood cells, the basophils are called upon. This usually happens with allergens.
Plasma
Plasma makes up more than half of the blood supply in our bodies. Plasma is over 90% water, 6 to 8% proteins, and 2 to 4% salts, lipids and glucose. Plasma has several important functions including dissolving materials, participating in immune defense and delivering substances to tissues for growth and survival. Of all these roles the primary function of plasma is transport; plasma is constantly moving water, nutrients and waste to and from cells. Because plasma is mostly water, an excellent solvent, a wide variety of substances can dissolve easily into plasma. Plasma carries salts, sugars such as glucose, amino acids, cholesterol, hormones and waste throughout the body to and from body tissues. These solvent and transportation duties are vital to human health.
Blood Types
Now that we know just about everything we need to know about blood, we can now talk about the different kinds of blood. The picture below describes the different kinds of blood that are found in the human body. Not everyone has the same kind of blood and some are special, even more so than others.
Now that we know just about everything we need to know about blood, we can now talk about the different kinds of blood. The picture below describes the different kinds of blood that are found in the human body. Not everyone has the same kind of blood and some are special, even more so than others.
Each blood type have antigens which are substance that trigger an immune response. We all have surface antigens as well. Surface antigens are substances that are found in our cell membranes that our immune system ignores (types A, B, and Rh are the most important). Our blood type is determined by the presence or absence of certain surface antigens. The four different kinds of blood types are type A, type B, type AB, and finally type O.
Type A
Type A blood types only take only two types of blood. These certain types are type A and O. When encountered with any other blood type, the plasma will not accept it and destroy it.
Type B
Type B blood types can only receive two types of blood just like type A, but thy cannot take type A blood. They two types that they can take are type B and O.
Type O
This is where it starts to get a bit interesting. If you have an O blood type, you can give to just about any other blood type, but the drawback is that you can only receive from other type O owners. There is hope though.
Type AB
Type AB blood is one of the most coveted blood types of the red cross. People who have the type AB blood, are universal receivers which makes it very easy for whomever has this certain blood type.
Type A
Type A blood types only take only two types of blood. These certain types are type A and O. When encountered with any other blood type, the plasma will not accept it and destroy it.
Type B
Type B blood types can only receive two types of blood just like type A, but thy cannot take type A blood. They two types that they can take are type B and O.
Type O
This is where it starts to get a bit interesting. If you have an O blood type, you can give to just about any other blood type, but the drawback is that you can only receive from other type O owners. There is hope though.
Type AB
Type AB blood is one of the most coveted blood types of the red cross. People who have the type AB blood, are universal receivers which makes it very easy for whomever has this certain blood type.