The Blood: Components, Functions, and Formation

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THE BLOOD
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THE BLOOD
Introduction
Blood is a fluid within the bodies of human beings and animals which transports nutrients,
respiratory gases and other organic wastes from the cells of the body to the excretory organs of
the body. The fluid is pumped by the heart organ to all body parts after which the blood returns
to the heart for the repetition of the process (Artkins et al.2017). It flows through the specialized
blood vessels; arteries, veins and capillaries to the respective body cells and tissues.
Components of blood and Functions of blood
The blood constitutes majorly the blood plasma which is the blood fluid. The plasma is 92%
made of water in volume with the remaining portion containing proteins, ions, glucose, blood
cells, and carbon dioxide. The albumin as a major protein within the blood plasma controls the
blood hypotonic pressure (Burnstock 2015). Other components of blood include cells suspended
by the plasma. The blood cells are of different types mainly erythrocytes, leukocytes, and
thrombocytes. The erythrocytes are the most abundant as they are containing hemoglobin which
binds with oxygen hence facilitating respiration. Blood plays major roles including:
Transport
Blood is responsible for the transport and supply of the following in the body.

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Transportation of oxygen gas from the gaseous exchange site, lungs to the body cells and
carbon dioxide to the excretion organ.
The supply of nutrients to the body parts from the digestive tracts where they are assimilated.
Transportation of waste products from the body cells to the detoxification organ like the liver
or the excretory organs like kidney.
Hormonal movement in the body from their secretory organs to the target cells.
Distribution of heat evenly across all parts of the body hence regulating body temperature.
Protection.
Leukocytes are responsible for the destruction of any pathogenic microorganisms which may
find its way into the body thus protecting the body from infections.
Antibodies which are found in the blood are also capable of destroying pathogens in the body
thus protecting the body from infection.
Thrombocytes play a vital role in blood coagulation hence minimizing blood loss through
any mechanical external injury.
Regulation
The blood regulates the body’s pH through interaction with the acids and bases in the body.
Water balance in the body hence ensuring balanced osmotic and ionic pressure.

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Blood is responsible for regulation of the body’s temperature by equal distribution of heat
throughout the body.
Blood cell formation
Erythrocytes, most leukocytes, and thrombocytes are formed through a process known as
Hematopoiesis which is the process of replenishment of the cellular blood constituents as per the
needs of the body. It occurs in the red bone marrow within the epiphyses of flat bones, ribs and
proximal ends of the long bones. Hematopoietic are capable of giving rise to all blood cell types
through differentiation pathways for production of specific types of blood cells. Hematopoietic
cells also renew themselves by ensuring the remain of at least one of their daughter cell during
differentiation hence the stem cell is not depleted (Gori et al.2015). Some of the leukocytes, T
and B known as lymphocytes are formed in the spleen and nodes of the lymph. The kidney
produces erythropoietin hormone which is responsible for the stimulation of bone marrow to
enhance production of erythrocytes. Leukocytes are formed through leukopoiesis which is
stimulated by several factors, it begins with the division of hematopoietic stem cells: myeloblast
division forming oenophiles, neutrophilic or basophilic myelocytes which develop to
granulocytes, monoblast leading to the development of monocytes and lymphoblast which
develops to lymphocytes. Thrombopoiesis, in turn, starts by development megakaryoblast from
the hematopoietic cells which split without cytokinesis resulting in megakaryocytes which then
fragment as the plasma membrane unfolds t in the cytoplasm. the process of cell maturation is
known as Erythrocyte differentiation whereby the cell undergoes several series of differentiation.
The haemocytoblast, multipotent stem cell becomes a common myeloid progenitor or a
multipotent cell then unipotent stem cell which improves to pronormoblast. This becomes