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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:
Together, these three kinds of blood cells sum up for a total 45% of blood tissue (55% is plasma).[1]
| 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 | 28 days |
Disorders
- See also: hematologic diseases
A decrease in number of blood cells is called cytopenia. An increase, on the other hand, is called polycythemia.[2]
References
- ^ Maton, Anthea; Jean Hopkins, Charles William McLaughlin, Susan Johnson, Maryanna Quon Warner, David LaHart, Jill D. Wright (1993). Human Biology and SOOOOOOOOOOO. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA: Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-981176-1.
- ^ Polycythemia vera nlm.nih.gov
External links
- What is Blood? from the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah.
- Cells of the blood
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