Blood Cells

Blood Cells

• Fetuses produce blood in the yolk sac, liver and spleen
• Kids make blood in axial skeleton bones and long bones
• Adults make blood in axial skeleton bones
• Erythro-, thrombo-, or leukopoiesis

• Disc-shaped cells that survive around 120 days
• RBCs have lost their nuclei and most organelles, including mitochondria
• Can only perform glycolysis for energy
• Responsible for carrying oxygen and carbon dioxide to tissues
• Specifically, hemoglobin binds to O2
• Each can carry up to 4 molecules of O2
• Responsible for the color of your blood!

Platelets

• Role is to initiate the stopping of bleeding
• First and second parts of hemostasis
• Have a lifespan of 7-10 days
• Thrombopoietin from liver can stimulate its production
• Come from megakaryocytes
• Very small bits
• Have many granules and no nucleus

Leukocytes (White Blood Cells)

• Includes everything other than RBCs or platelets!
• Involved in the immune response
• Lifespan can vary a lot depending on leukocyte type (range: hours to years)