A blood cell, also called a haematocyte, is a cell produced by haematopoiesis and normally found in blood. In mammals, these fall into three general categories:
- Red blood cells – Erythrocytes
- White blood cells – Leukocytes
- Platelets – Thrombocytes.
Together, these three kinds of blood cells add up to a total 45% of the blood tissue by volume, with the remaining 55% of the volume composed of plasma, the liquid component of blood. This volume percentage (e.g., 45%) of cells to total volume is called hematocrit, determined by centrifuge or flow cytometry. Hemoglobin (the main component of red blood cells) is an iron-containing protein that facilitates transportation of oxygen and other respiratory gases to tissues.
Read more about Blood Cell: Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes), White Blood Cells (Leukocytes), Platelets (Thrombocytes), Complete Blood Count, Discovery
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