Types of Blood Cells

The blood that flows through our veins and arteries is called whole blood. There are three types of blood cells in our blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The bone marrow makes these blood cells, which then travels through the circulatory system in plasma. Whole blood is made of blood cells and plasma.

Red Blood Cells

Red blood cells look like fat disks and are filled with a protein called hemoglobin. When the blood picks up oxygen in the lungs, the hemoglobin reacts and turns the blood red. Hemoglobin is also responsible for releasing oxygen into the body.

We have more red blood cells in us than any other blood cell type. Each red blood can live up to four months before it's replaced. Our bodies produce new red blood cells every day to make up for those that die.

White Blood Cells

White blood cells defend the body from infections, bacteria, and viruses that cause illness. There are fewer white blood cells in the body than red blood cells, but our body automatically increases white blood cell production if necessary.

There are different kinds of white blood cells, all of which have different life spans. White blood cells travel along your blood vessel's walls and fight germs, bacteria, and other cells that may have become infected or turned into cancer cells.

Some white blood cells make antibodies that help the body recognize certain alien bodies. After your white blood cells destroy a certain kind of infection, they remember how to make the antibodies needed to attack that kind of infection, so that they can fight it quickly if it comes back.

Platelets

Platelets are the cells that clot create scabs to stop wounds from bleeding. When one of our blood vessels breaks, these platelets are the ones that gather in that area to seal it off and stop the blood from leaking. Platelets only last about nine days in our body so they are always replaced.