Blood Cells: Red and White

Blood Cells

Red Blood Cells

• Also known as erythrocytes
• Function: carry oxygen from lungs to body tissues and carbon dioxide from tissues to lungs
• Characteristics:
  • Biconcave disk shape
  • No nucleus
  • Contain hemoglobin (Hb) that binds to oxygen
  • Produced in bone marrow
• Average lifespan: 120 days
• Destroyed in spleen and liver

White Blood Cells

• Also known as leukocytes
• Function: part of immune system, help fight infections
• Types:
  1. Neutrophils: engulf and digest foreign particles and bacteria
  2. Lymphocytes: produce antibodies to fight infections
  3. Monocytes: mature into macrophages that engulf foreign particles
  4. Eosinophils: involved in parasitic infections and allergic reactions
  5. Basophils: involved in allergic reactions
• Produced in bone marrow and lymphoid organs
• Average lifespan: varies by type (hours to years)

Platelets

• Also known as thrombocytes
• Function: blood clotting, forming plugs to stop bleeding
• Characteristics:
  • Small, irregularly-shaped
  • No nucleus
  • Contain granules that release clotting factors
  • Produced in bone marrow
• Average lifespan: 7-10 days

Blood Cell Formation

• Process: hematopoiesis
• Occurs in bone marrow
• Steps:
  1. Stem cells differentiate into progenitor cells
  2. Progenitor cells mature into specific blood cell types
  3. Blood cells released into circulation
• Regulation: controlled by hormones, growth factors, and cytokines

Blood Cell Disorders

• Anemia: low red blood cell count or hemoglobin level
• Leukemia: cancer of white blood cells
• Thrombocytopenia: low platelet count
• Hemophilia: genetic disorder affecting blood clotting
• Sickle cell disease: genetic disorder affecting hemoglobin structure

Blood Cells

Red Blood Cells

• Carry oxygen from lungs to body tissues and carbon dioxide from tissues to lungs
• Characteristics:
  • Biconcave disk shape
  • No nucleus
  • Contain hemoglobin (Hb) that binds to oxygen
  • Produced in bone marrow
• Average lifespan: 120 days
• Destroyed in spleen and liver

White Blood Cells

• Part of immune system, help fight infections
• Types:
  • Neutrophils: engulf and digest foreign particles and bacteria
  • Lymphocytes: produce antibodies to fight infections
  • Monocytes: mature into macrophages that engulf foreign particles
  • Eosinophils: involved in parasitic infections and allergic reactions
  • Basophils: involved in allergic reactions
• Produced in bone marrow and lymphoid organs
• Average lifespan: varies by type (hours to years)

Platelets

• Function: blood clotting, forming plugs to stop bleeding
• Characteristics:
  • Small, irregularly-shaped
  • No nucleus
  • Contain granules that release clotting factors
  • Produced in bone marrow
• Average lifespan: 7-10 days

Blood Cell Formation

• Process: hematopoiesis
• Occurs in bone marrow
• Steps:
  • Stem cells differentiate into progenitor cells
  • Progenitor cells mature into specific blood cell types
  • Blood cells released into circulation
• Regulation: controlled by hormones, growth factors, and cytokines

Blood Cell Disorders

• Anemia: low red blood cell count or hemoglobin level
• Leukemia: cancer of white blood cells
• Thrombocytopenia: low platelet count
• Hemophilia: genetic disorder affecting blood clotting
• Sickle cell disease: genetic disorder affecting hemoglobin structure

Learn about the structure, function, and characteristics of red and white blood cells, including their roles in the body.