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Identifying cells in our bloodstream

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Today, let’s review three of the common types of cells found in our human bloodstream. These three blood cells are generally called hematocytes, and they are the cells in our bloodstream that are produced in our bone marrow in our body. These three major types of blood cells found in our bloodstream include the following: (1) Red blood cells (erythrocytes), (2) White blood cells (leukocytes), and (3) Platelets (thrombocytes).

Together, these three kinds of blood cells add up to a total 45 percent of the volume of our blood stream, with the remaining 55 percent of the volume composed of plasma, the liquid component of blood. Let us now briefly review the function of these three main types of cells in our blood stream.

≤ Red blood cells – The primary function of our red blood cells is to carry oxygen from our lungs to all the tissues in our human body, and our red blood cells then pick up carbon dioxide and carry it back to our lungs where it is expelled from our body when we exhale. Our red blood cells are produced in our bone marrow, and in adults, millions of these cells are produced in our bone marrow every second. These red blood cells are the most common type of cell found in our blood, with each cubic millimeter of blood containing 4 to 6 million cells. Our red blood cells have a lifespan of approximately 100 to 120 days. After they have completed their lifespan, they are removed from the blood stream by our spleen. If we have too few red blood cells in our blood stream, we have a medical condition called anemia. If we have too many red blood cells, this is called polycythemia. Both of these conditions need to be medically treated without delay.

≤ White blood cells – The primary function of our white blood cells is to fight off infection that we may be exposed to or to fight an infection that we may already have in our body. White blood cells, called leukocytes, are the cells of our immune system involved in defending the body against infectious diseases and they also fight off foreign materials that we may be exposed to. Our white blood cells are also produced in our bone marrow from cells known as stem cells. Leukocytes are found throughout the body, including the blood and lymphatic system. There are a variety of types of white blood cells that serve specific roles in the human immune system. Our white blood cells make up approximately 1percent of our total blood volume, and they do so much to protect us from infection and illness.

≤ Platelets – These are the cells in our blood stream that are responsible for normal blood clotting. The medical word “thrombus” is defined as a clot of blood formed within a blood vessel and remaining attached to its place of origin. The word thrombus is often used in medical terms used to describe various diseases and conditions that affect the platelets and blood clotting. Normally, one cubic millimeter of blood contains between 150,000 and 400,000 platelets. Platelets are also manufactured in our bone marrow and these cells are the key to forming normal and necessary blood clots. For example, when there is a cut or a break or tear in one of our blood vessels, our circulating platelets readily attach to that site, and start to form a plug to stop the bleeding. The platelets then send out chemical signals to attract more platelets, and connect to each other to form a plug. Once this plug is formed, the coagulation (clotting) cascade is activated which adds fibrin to the clot, to hold it together. Over time, as the blood vessel repairs itself, the blood clot is slowly absorbed by our normal body healing function.

I hope you have found the marvel of the function of these three types of cells in our blood stream to be as amazing and fascinating as I have. Take proper care of your body, so it can properly take care of you! And yes, these are Doctor’s Orders!

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Jim Surrell is the author of “The ABC’s For Success In All We Do” and the “SOS (Stop Only Sugar) Diet” books. Requests for health topics for this column are encouraged. Contact Dr. Surrell by email at sosdietdoc@gmail.com.

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