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Anatomy and physiology of the blood

Blood is made up of liquid (called plasma) and solid cells. The bone marrow is the soft, spongy substance in the centre of the bone where blood cells are made.

Structure
In adults, the most active bone marrow is found in the pelvic and shoulder bones, back bones (vertebra), ribs, breast bone and skull. Immature blood cells found within the bone marrow are called stem cells. Stem cells can also be found in smaller amounts in the bloodstream. These are called peripheral blood stem cells. All our blood cells develop from stem cells. The process of blood cell development is called hematopoiesis. In the earliest stage of blood cell development, stem cells begin to develop either along the lymphoid cell line or the myeloidcell line. In both cell lines, the stem cells become blasts, which are still immature cells. During the last stage of cell development, the blasts mature into 3 types of blood cells, called red bloods cells, platelets and white blood cells.

Function
The main function of blood is to supply nutrients to and remove waste from cells, transport hormones to tissues and protect the body from harmful micro-organisms. Each type of blood cell has a specific job.

Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and return carbon dioxide to the lungs. Platelets form blood clots in damaged vessels to stop bleeding. White blood cells (leukocytes) help prevent and fight infection by destroying bacteria, viruses and other foreign cells or substances.

Types of white blood cells


Lymphocytes (from lymphoid cell line) Lymphocytes make antibodies to fight infection. Lymphocytes are found in the lymph nodes, thymus, spleen, tonsils, adenoids, bone marrow and in lymphatic tissue in other parts of the body, such as the stomach and intestinal lining.

B cells produce antibodies to fight bacteria, viruses and fungi. T cells activate the B cells to produce antibodies. Natural killer (NK) cells attack any foreign cells.

Granulocytes (from the myeloid cell line) Granulocytes destroy bacteria to fight infection.

Neutrophils are the main cells that fight infection. They ingest or engulf foreign cells. Eosinophils help control inflammation and allergic reactions. They attack and destroy certain parasitic organisms. Basophils play a role in certain allergic reactions.

Monocytes (from the myeloid cell line) Monocytes help fight infection by ingesting substances like bacteria and fungi.

Reference: http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/leukemia/anatomy-andphysiology/?region=on#ixzz2lCAP5MzV

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