The Blood

Blood is a connective tissue. In the human species, men contain 5 to 6 liters and women, between 4 and
6 liters. It has a viscous liquid consistency. It moves through the vessels of the circulatory system at an
average temperature of 37°C and has a dark red color in the veins and bright red in the arteries.

The blood volume of an individual is calculated as 7% of the total body weight. For example, a person
weighing 80 kilos has a volume of approximately 5.5 liters of blood.

Blood is composed of plasma, a liquid intercellular substance and a collection of cells, suspended in the
plasma.

Plasma, which is liquid and contains dissolved substances, makes up 55% of the total composition of
blood. The remaining 45% includes red blood cells or erythrocytes, white blood cells or leukocytes (of
which there are different categories) and platelets or thrombocytes. It is light amber in color.

Blood cells

Erythrocytes, red blood cells or red cells. These are cells without a nucleus. They are specialized in the
transport of breathing gases, for which they have hemoglobin, a protein with a red pigment called
hematin, which contains iron.

In the human species they measure approximately 7.5 micrometers in diameter.

In the male, there are 5 to 5.5 million erythrocytes per milliliter of blood, and 4.5 million in the female.
The volume of erythrocytes in the blood is approximately 44%.

Erythrocytes are formed in the bone marrow, a hematopoietic organ located inside the bone tissue.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells maintain the pH balance, viscosity and density of the blood. They originate in the red
marrow of the bones (erythropoiesis) and their average lifespan is about 120 days.

After this time, they are destroyed by the spleen and liver, but about 85% of the iron they contain is
reused; the other percentage (15%) must be replenished by food intake.

Leukocytes or white blood cells. They have a nucleus and do not contain hemoglobin. They originate in
the spleen, thymus, red bone marrow and lymph nodes. An increase in white blood cells (leukocytosis)
occurs in the presence of infections such as pneumonia, abscesses and appendicitis. Their decrease
(leukopenia) occurs with diseases such as typhoid and tuberculosis, there are 3 types:

Lymphocytes. They are related to the synthesis of antibodies, special proteins that inactivate antigens,
especially bacteria.

Monocytes. These are large cells that act very effectively as natural defenses of the organism by
phagocytizing germs.

Polymorphonuclear cells: Eliminate bacteria, fungi, counteract the effects of inflammation and allergic
reactions.
Functions of leukocytes

Protect the organism from the action of germs, such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, either by
phagocytizing them or by exerting antibiotic activities on them.

To help in healing and regeneration, because they take from the blood the materials necessary for these
processes and carry them to the tissues.

Assist in blood coagulation. Allow to counteract inflammation in allergic reactions.

Platelets or thrombocytes. They are elements without nucleus, of discoidal shape. They measure 2 to 4
microns in diameter and there are about 300 thousand in each cubic millimeter of blood.

Platelets are essential for blood coagulation; when there is a wound or when blood leaves the body and
comes into contact with air, they disintegrate and release a substance called thromboplastin, which
causes coagulation.

Hematopoiesis

Hematopoiesis is the process of formation, maturation and passage into the systemic circulation of
blood cells. The 3 types of blood cells do not originate in the blood but only use it to perform their
functions or to move from one side to the other.

In reality, they come from a common precursor or stem cell that originates in the hematopoietic tissue
of the bone marrow and is pluripotent because it can differentiate into any type of blood cell.

In embryonic life hematopoiesis takes place in the liver, spleen and lymph nodes. In late pregnancy and
after birth it takes place in the bone marrow of all bones.

Hematopoietic system

The function of the hematopoietic system is to remove old or defective cells from circulation, eliminate
them and replace them with new ones.

This system is made up of a collection of cells from the bone marrow, blood and lymphoid system that
give rise to all types of blood cells from a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC).

A myeloid stem cell develops into one of three types of mature blood cells:

Red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all tissues in the body.

Platelets, which form blood clots to stop bleeding.

White blood cells or granulocytes, which fight infection and disease.

A lymphoid mother cell develops into a lymphoblast and then into one of three types of lymphocytes
(white blood cells):
B lymphocytes, which produce antibodies to help fight infection.

T lymphocytes, which help B lymphocytes produce antibodies to help fight infection.

Natural cytolytic lymphocytes that attack cancer cells and viruses.

Hematopoiesis

Physiological mechanism responsible for:

Continuous formation of the various formative elements of the blood.

Maintenance within normal limits in peripheral blood.