The analytical and diagnostic testing carried out in these three areas supports other health professionals in screening, diagnosing, monitoring disease progression and treatment. In this unit you will concentrate on biomedical science in relation to the human body, but many of the same techniques a...
Blood is a special body fluid. This has his four main components:
Plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets. Blood has many functions, including:
Transport of oxygen and nutrients to the lungs and tissues.
In general, the ranges are: White blood cells: 4,500 to 11,000 cells/mcL Red blood cells: 4.5
million to 5.9 million cells/mcL for men; 4.1 million to 5.1 million cells/mcL for women.
Haemoglobin: 14 to 17.5 g/dL for men; 12.3 to 15.3 g/dL for women.
Erythrocytes
Red blood cells (erythrocytes, or RBCs) are anucleated, biconcave cells filled with
haemoglobin that carry oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and tissues.
Leucocytes
White blood cells, also called leukocytes or leukocytes, lack haemoglobin, have a nucleus,
are motile, and are the cellular component of blood that protects the body from infection and
disease.
Thrombocytes
A small disk-shaped cell fragment found in the blood and spleen.
Platelets are part of very large cells in the bone marrow called
megakaryocytes. It forms blood clots to slow or stop bleeding and aid
wound healing.
Plasma and Serum
Plasma is 90% water and contains substances such as antibodies, clotting factors,
and electrolytes, lipids, and proteins that the body needs to maintain itself. Removing
the clotting factors from plasma leaves an interstitial fluid-like fluid known as serum.
Red blood cell count & White blood cell count
The RBC index is part of a complete blood count test. Each marker provides specific
information about red blood cell health that can help diagnose nutritional deficiencies
and disease. WBC count is a blood test that measures the number of white blood
, cells (WBC) in the blood. White blood cells are also called leukocytes. They help
fight infections.
It also tests for haemoglobin and hematocrit (the proportion of red blood cells to
plasma in your blood). This test is used to detect various diseases and infections,
such as leukaemia and anaemia.
How disease affect the composition of the blood
Sickle cell anaemia
Anaemia occurs when there are not enough healthy red blood cells. If you have anaemia,
your body does not get enough oxygen-rich blood which affects the blood composition .
Some types of anaemia are inherited, but anaemia can be acquired or developed.
Sickle cell anaemia belongs to a group of genetic disorders known as sickle cell
anaemia. It affects the shape of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of the
body.
Red blood cells are usually round and flexible and can move easily through blood
vessels. In sickle cell anaemia, some red blood cells are sickle-shaped or
crescent-shaped. These sickle cells also become stiff and sticky, slowing or blocking
blood flow.
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