Overview of blood and blood components

What is blood?

Blood is the life-maintaining fluid that circulates through the body's:

• Heart.
• Arteries.
• Veins.
• Capillaries.

What is the function of blood?

Blood carries the following to the body tissues:

• Nourishment.
• Electrolytes.
• Hormones.
• Vitamins.
• Antibodies.
• Heat
• Oxygen.

Blood carries the following away from the body tissues:

• Waste matter.
• Carbon dioxide.

What are the components of blood?

Human blood consists of about 22 percent solids and 78 percent water. The components of human blood are:

• Plasma, in which the blood cells are suspended, including:
  • Red blood cells (erythrocytes) - carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
  • White blood cells (leukocytes) - help fight infections and aid in the immune process. Types of white blood cells include:
    • Lymphocytes.
    • Monocytes.
    • Eosinophils.
    • Basophils.
    • Neutrophils (granulocytes).
  • Platelets (thrombocytes) - help in blood clotting.
  • Fat globules.
  • Chemical substances, including:
    • Carbohydrates.
    • Proteins.
    • Hormones.
  • Gases, including:
    • Oxygen.
    • Carbon dioxide.
    • Nitrogen.

Where are blood cells made?

Blood cells are made in the bone marrow. The bone marrow is the spongy material in the center of the bones that produces about 95 percent of the body's blood cells.

There are other organs and systems in our bodies that help regulate blood cells. The lymph nodes, spleen, and liver help regulate the production, destruction, and differentiation (developing a specific function) of cells. The production and development of new cells is a process called hematopoiesis.

Blood cells formed in the bone marrow start out as a stem cell. A "stem cell" (or hematopoietic cell) is the initial phase of all blood cells. As the stem cell matures, several distinct cells evolve such as the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Immature blood cells are also called blasts. Some blasts stay in the marrow to mature and others travel to other parts of the body to develop into mature, functioning blood cells.

What are the functions of blood cells?

The primary function of red blood cells, or erythrocytes, is to carry oxygen and carbon dioxide. Hemoglobin (Hgb) is an important protein in the red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of our body.

The primary function of white blood cells, or leukocytes, is to fight infection. There are several types of white blood cells and each has its own role in fighting bacterial, viral, fungi, and parasitic infections. Types of white blood cells that are most important for helping protect the body from infection and foreign cells include the following:

• Neutrophils.
• Eosinophils.
• Lymphocytes.
• Monocytes.
• Granulocytes.

White blood cells:

• Help heal wounds not only by fighting infection but also by ingesting matter such as dead cells, tissue debris and old red blood cells.
• Are our protection from foreign bodies that enter the blood stream, such as allergens.
• Are involved in the protection against mutated cells, such as cancer.

The primary function of platelets, or thrombocytes, is blood clotting. Platelets are much smaller in size than the other blood cells. They group together to form clumps, or a plug, in the hole of a vessel to stop bleeding.

What is a complete blood cell count (CBC)?

A complete blood cell count is a measurement of size, number and maturity of the different blood cells in a specific volume of blood. A complete blood cell count can be used to determine many abnormalities with either the production or destruction of blood cells. Variations from the normal number, size, or maturity of the blood cells can be used to indicate an infection or disease process. Often with an infection, the number of white blood cells will be elevated. Many forms of cancer can affect the bone marrow production of blood cells. An increase in the immature white blood cells in a complete blood cell count can be associated with leukemia. Anemia and sickle cell disease will have abnormally low hemoglobin.

Common hematology tests:

Some common hematology tests include the following:

Your child's physician will explain the purpose and results of any blood tests with you.