UPSC » UPSC CSE Study Materials » General Science » All About Formed Elements

All About Formed Elements

We will learn more about blood, its composition, and its components. The article will cover details about blood plasma and all about formed elements.

The formed elements are cells and cell components suspended in the blood plasma. The three categories of formed elements are the erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white blood cells), and thrombocytes (platelets). They include nearly 45 % of the Blood. Blood is a unique connective tissue consisting of a fluid matrix, plasma, and formed elements. Blood is a continuously circulating fluid supplying the body with nutrition, oxygen, and waste removal. Blood is mainly liquid, with countless cells and proteins balanced, making it “thicker” than water. The average human has about 5 litres of blood in the body. A fluid called plasma creates about half of the content of the blood.

Composition of Blood:

If a blood sample is a centrifuge, the cells and cell components will get separated from the fluid intercellular matrix. Because the formed elements are weightier than the fluid matrix, they will sink to the bottom of the tube by centrifugal force. The light yellow-coloured liquid on the top is called plasma, which accounts for about 55 % of the blood volume, and red blood cells are named the hematocrit, or packed cell volume (PCV). The white blood cells and platelets form a thin white layer, called the “buffy coat”, between plasma and red blood cells. 

 The function of blood:

  • Supplying oxygen and other nutrients to cells and tissues.
  • Providing vital nutrients to cells, like amino acids, fatty acids, and glucose.
  • Deposing waste materials like carbon dioxide, urea, and lactic acid.
  • Defending the body from diseases, infections, and foreign bodies by white blood cells.
  • Controlling body temperature.
  • The platelets in blood promote the clotting/coagulation of blood. In the case of bleeding, the platelets gather together to form a clot. 

Blood Plasma:

Blood Plasma is a yellowish coloured, thick fluid including nearly 55 % of the BloodBlood. 90-92 % of plasma is water, and proteins donate 6-8% of it. Fibrinogen, globulins, and albumins are the main proteins. Fibrinogens are required for the clotting of blood. Globulins mainly protect the body, and the albumins benefit the osmotic balance. Glucose, amino acids, lipids, etc., are also present in the plasma as they are always in transit in the body. Factors for coagulation or clotting of BloodBlood are also present in the plasma in a nonfunctioning form. Plasma without the clotting characteristics is named serum.

Formed elements: 

As we learned above, formed elements consist of Erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets, containing nearly 45 percent of the blood.

  • Erythrocytes, also known as red blood cells- Erythrocytes, or red blood cells, are numerous of the formed elements. Erythrocytes are small biconcave disks shaped, thin in the center, and thicker around the edge. The shape delivers flexibility for moving through tiny capillaries with a full surface area for scattering gasses. The main function of erythrocytes is to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide to a lesser extent.
  • Leukocytes are also known as white blood cells- Leukocytes, or white blood cells, are normally bigger than erythrocytes but smaller in number. Even though they are supposed to be blood cells, leukocytes do most of the work in the tissues. They utilise the BloodBlood as a transportation medium. Some are phagocytic; others produce antibodies; some create histamine and heparin, and others balance histamine. Leukocytes can drive through the capillary walls into the tissue areas, called diapedesis. The tissue areas provide a shield against organisms that induce disease and either promote inflammatory responses.
  • There are two major groups of leukocytes in the blood. The cells that produce granules in the cytoplasm are called granulocytes, and those that do not have granules are named agranulocytes. Neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils are granulocytes. Monocytes and lymphocytes are agranulocytes.
  • Neutrophils, the numerous leukocytes, are phagocytic and have light-coloured granules. Eosinophils have granules and consent to balance the effects of histamine. Basophils secrete histamine and heparin and have blue granules. In the tissues, they have named mast cells. 
  • Thrombocytes also called platelets- Thrombocytes, or platelets, are not entire cells but are small pieces of very big cells called megakaryocytes. Megakaryocytes generate from hemocytoblasts in the red bone marrow. Thrombocytes become sticky and clump together to form platelet plugs that close gaps and tears in blood vessels. They also start the formation of blood clots.

Issues to be seen if human blood decreases:

  • Anaemia is when the human body does not have enough healthy red blood cells to have sufficient oxygen to your body’s tissues. Having anaemia, also directed as low haemoglobin, can cause tiredness and weakness. There are multiple forms of anaemia, each with its cause.
  • The most serious complication is if fewer white blood cells cause Infection; a low white blood cell count or particularly a low number of neutrophils can cause you to catch an infection rapidly. And if you catch an infection with a low white blood cell count, your body can’t defend itself.

Conclusion:

Blood is the most important Fluid in any living organism, around 5 lit of blood is present in the average adult human body. its functions are, Supplying oxygen and other nutrients to cells and tissues; Providing vital nutrients to cells, like amino acids, fatty acids, and glucose; Disposing waste materials like carbon dioxide, urea, and lactic acid.; Defending the body from diseases, infections, and foreign bodies by white blood cells. Erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets are together called formed elements. Conditions like anaemia can occur if the blood level goes abnormally low. Having anaemia, also directed as low haemoglobin, can cause tiredness and weakness.

faq

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the UPSC Preparation.

What are the components of blood?

Ans.  The four most important components of blood are red cells, white...Read full

How to increase Hemoglobin in humans?

Ans. Many foods and fruits like meat and fish, soy products, eggs, dried fruits such as dates and figs, broccoli, gr...Read full

How is Anaemia caused?

Ans. A very low number of red blood cells in the human blood causes Anemia. Fatigue and breathlessness can be the sy...Read full

What are the components of blood plasma?

Ans. Blood Plasma is a yellowish coloured, thick fluid including nearly 55 % of the BloodBlood. 90-92 % of pl...Read full