Red blood cells (RBCs): The Red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, transport oxygen from the lungs to various tissues in the body and carry carbon dioxide, a waste product, from the tissues back to the lungs for exhalation. They possess a biconcave disc shape and contain the protein hemoglobin, …
Process of Hemopoiesis
Hemopoiesis, also known as hematopoiesis, is the process by which the body produces blood cells. It is a complex and highly regulated process that takes place primarily in the bone marrow but can also occur in other tissues like the liver and spleen, especially during fetal development. Hemopoiesis is essential …
Hemopoietic system
The hematopoietic system, or hematopoietic system, generates blood cells, comprising red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets (thrombocytes). Operating in the bone marrow and other lymphatic tissues like the spleen and lymph nodes, it maintains blood cells vital for oxygen transport, immune responses, and blood clotting, which …
Blood groups
In the year 1900, Austrian scientist Karl Landsteiner discovered the ABO blood group system. In his experiments, he mixed different blood types, observing that the plasma from specific blood types produced agglutinates or formed clusters. This phenomenon was caused by the absence of molecules on red blood cells, which, in …
Mechanisms of coagulation
Blood coagulation, or clotting, is a complex and tightly regulated physiological mechanism that prevents excessive bleeding following a vascular injury. It involves a series of sequential and interrelated reactions that ultimately lead to the formation of a blood clot. The coagulation process can be divided into three main pathways: intrinsic, …