blood cell

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Any of the cells contained in blood; an erythrocyte or leukocyte; a blood corpuscle.

Three main types of cell are present in blood: erythrocytes or red cells, leucocytes or white cells, and platelets. Red blood cells contain the protein haemoglobin, which is responsible for the transport of oxygen from the lungs to tissues, and of carbon dioxide from tissues to the lungs. White blood cells are generally concerned with protection against invading micro-organisms, and platelets with the ability of the blood to coagulate, and so prevent excessive blood loss through bleeding.

Any of the formed elements of the blood, including red cells (erythrocytes), white cells (leukocytes), and platelets (thrombocytes).

See erythrocyte and leukocyte. Platelets are classed separately.

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A blood cell (also called blood corpuscle) is any cell of any type normally found in blood. In mammals, these fall into three general categories:

• Red Blood Cells - Erythrocytes

• White Blood Cells- Leukocytes

• Platelets - Thrombocytes

red and white human blood cells as seen under a microscope using a blue slide stain

Together, these three kinds of blood cells sum up for a total 45% of blood tissue (55% is plasma).^[1]

Comparison

Cell type	Primary function	Lifetime
Red blood cells	transport of oxygen	120 days
White blood cells	produces antibodies to fight infection	days to years
Platelets	blood clotting	9 days [2]

Disorders

See also: hematologic diseases

A decrease in number of red blood cells is called anemia. An increase, on the other hand, is called Polycythemia.^[3]

References

1. ^ Maton, Anthea; Jean Hopkins, Charles William McLaughlin, Susan Johnson, Maryanna Quon Warner, David LaHart, Jill D. Wright (1993). Human Biology and Health. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA: Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-981176-1. 
2. ^ http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119622203/abstract
3. ^ Polycythemia vera nlm.nih.gov

External links

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Learning resources from Wikiversity

• What is Blood? from the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah.
• Cells of the blood

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