What makes up composition of blood

In the Classroom. Donation Center Tours. A Note to Teachers. Donate Blood. Organize a Blood Drive. Educational Programs. About Blood. Giving Back. Join the Community. Home About Blood Blood Components. Blood Components What is blood made of? Think of your blood as a fruit smoothie made up of about four basic ingredients blended together, all of them important: Red Blood Cells White Blood Cells Platelets Plasma Blood cells are produced in the marrow of bones, especially the vertebrae, ribs, hips, skull and sternum.

Red Blood Cells - erythrocytes Red blood cells are disc-shaped cells containing hemoglobin, which enables the cells to pick up and deliver oxygen to all parts of the body, then pick up carbon dioxide and remove it from tissues. Make up about 40 percent of your blood. Carry oxygen from the lungs to tissue, and carry back carbon dioxide to the lungs. Contain the molecule hemoglobin which carries the oxygen and makes blood red.

Live about days and are removed by the spleen. Have an after-donation shelf life of days. Most needed for patients with significant blood loss through trauma, surgery, or anemia. White Blood Cells - leukocytes White cells are the body's primary defense against infection. There are several different types of white blood cells. Lymphocytes are key parts of our immune system and help our bodies fight infection. There are two types of lymphocytes: T cells direct the activity of the immune system; B lymphocytes produce antibodies which destroy foreign bodies.

White blood cells may themselves harbor infectious disease and some pathogens are more concentrated in them than other blood products. Leukoreduction is the process of removing white blood cells from blood supplied for transfusion.

Platelets - thrombocytes Platelets are very small colorless cell fragments in your blood whose main function is to stop bleeding. They are the sticky cells that clump together to form clots that control bleeding by sticking to the lining of blood vessels.

When exposed to air a chemical reaction causes a protein in the blood, called fibrinogen, to turn into long threads which form a scab over the wound. Survive in the circulatory system for about 10 days and are removed by the spleen. Outside the body they can be stored for only five days. If a pregnant person has RhD-negative blood, for example, but the fetus inherits RhD-positive blood, treatment will be necessary to prevent a condition known as hemolytic disease of the newborn. Learn more about blood types in general and rare blood types.

If symptoms suggest a person may have a blood disorder, they should seek medical advice. A doctor may refer them to a specialist in blood disorders, known as a hematologist. Learn more here about different blood disorders. Blood is essential for maintaining the health and life of the human body.

It has many functions, including delivering nutrients and oxygen. The four main components of blood are red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Problems that arise due to illness or blood loss can be life threatening, but effective treatment is available for many blood-related disorders. Mean corpuscular volume MCV measures the size of red blood cells. Find out what different MCV levels mean and what can cause them to be low or high.

This article looks at the mitral valve and diseases of the mitral valve, including their symptoms, causes, and treatment options. A wide range of factors influences blood pressure. Learn more about normalizing blood pressure here. How does blood work, and what problems can occur? Structure Functions Blood groups Disorders Summary Blood is a combination of plasma and cells that circulate through the body.

Blood groups. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. What does a mean corpuscular volume level measure? Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. When the number of platelets is too high thrombocythemia Essential Thrombocythemia Essential thrombocythemia is a myeloproliferative neoplasm in which excess platelets are produced, leading to abnormal blood clotting or bleeding.

The hands and feet may burn, turn red, and The cause and symptoms When the number of platelets is extremely high, the platelets can absorb clotting proteins and paradoxically cause bleeding. Merck and Co. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world.

The Manual was first published in as a service to the community. Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

Common Health Topics. Red Blood Cells. White Blood Cells. Biology of Blood. Test your knowledge. What is the medical term for the procedure in which a person donates his or her own blood to be used if needed during or after a surgical procedure?

More Content. Click here for the Professional Version. The main components of blood include. Was This Page Helpful?

Yes No. Formation of Blood Cells. Overview of Blood.