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what is thE rbc,wbc and platlets?

RBCs, WBCs and platelets are the different types of cells found in blood.

  • Red Blood Cells or Erythrocytes - They contain a red pigment called haemoglobin, which transports oxygen to all cells of the body by combining with oxygen to form a compound called oxyhaemoglobin. The mature erythrocytes do not have a nucleus.

  • White Blood Cells or Leukocytes - They are larger than RBCs and do not have haemoglobin. They fight against germs that enter the body. Thus, they protect the body from diseases.

  • Blood Platelets or Thrombocytes - You must have noticed that when you get injured, bleeding stops after some time. This happens because of the activity of platelets. Platelets help in the clotting of blood during an injury. The platelets are smaller than the RBCs

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Red Blood Cells (also called erythrocytes or RBCs)

Known for their bright red color, red cells are the most abundant cell in the blood, accounting for about 40-45 percent of its volume. The shape of a red blood cell is a biconcave disk with a flattened center – in other words, both faces of the disc have shallow bowl-like indentations (a red blood cell looks like a donut). Red cells contain a special protein called hemoglobin, which helps carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and then returns carbon dioxide from the body to the lungs so it can be exhaled. Blood appears red because of the large number of red blood cells, which get their color from the hemoglobin. The percentage of whole blood volume that is made up of red blood cells is called the hematocrit and is a common measure of red blood cell levels.

White Blood Cells (also called leukocytes)

 

White blood cells protect the body from infection. They are much fewer in number than red blood cells, accounting for about 1 percent of your blood.

Platelets (also called thrombocytes)

Unlike red and white blood cells, platelets are not actually cells but rather small fragments of cells. Platelets help the blood clotting process (or coagulation) by gathering at the site of an injury, sticking to the lining of the injured blood vessel, and forming a platform on which blood coagulation can occur. This results in the formation of a fibrin clot, which covers the wound and prevents blood from leaking out. Fibrin also forms the initial scaffolding upon which new tissue forms, thus promoting healing.

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