BLOOD TEST: Mirror of Health (I)
Walk to the body in a similar way as do the vehicles on streets and avenues, and his mission is to transport elements that allow us to use the nutrients from food, breathe, fight infection and eliminate waste products. It is the blood, fluid also provides valuable information when we are sick.
Without the blood could not live, because all the organs of our body work through it, in addition to the many tasks carried out to preserve health. Approximately 95% of this fluid is produced in the bone marrow (soft, spongy material found inside bones) through a process called hematopoiesis, which is to generate blood cells in the initial phase are called “mother” (because they have the ability to multiply), but once they mature develop others, which are called red and white cells and platelets, which together form the vital fluid; of this, adolescents and adults have on average between 4.5 and 6 liters, while the children have from 7.6 to 8% of their body weight.
There exist other organs in our body that help regulate the production of blood tissue, eg spleen and liver, which are involved in the process of destruction and regeneration of blood cells.
Components
Human blood is made up of various elements, of which 78% is 22% water and solids, but let’s see in detail what are the different compounds and the work each performs.
Red blood cell. Are the blood cells that are in greater quantities and contain hemoglobin, which is the substance that gives red blood, carries oxygen from lungs to different tissues of the body and eliminates certain waste substances.
White blood cells. Responsible for protecting the body against different types of microbes, therefore, when any infection increase their numbers to improve the defenses. It is important to know that there are different types of cells such as lymphocytes (defended by producing antibodies), neutrophils (attack all types of foreign body), eosinophils (activated to attack parasites or in case of allergies), monocytes and (granulocyte-makers to digest foreign microorganisms to remove them).
Platelets or thrombocytes. His job is to clot the blood when it breaks one of the channels through which the liquid passes.
Plasma. Liquid composed of water, protein, minerals and other substances necessary for normal functioning of the body where they are “swimming” the blood cells described above.
Among the key features that are transported:
Albumin. A protein that helps maintain water balance in the plasma.
Globulins. Antibodies responsible for defending the body against infections.
Coagulation factors. Are essential to prevent bleeding, and have been classified into V, VII, VIII, IX, X and XII.
Other proteins. Transport elements necessary for normal cell function, for example, fats, sugars and minerals.
credit to: Karina Vasquez Galarza