What makes more blood

There are eight blood types, described using the letters A, B, and O. Those letters stand for certain proteins found on the red blood cells. Not everyone has the same proteins. Besides getting a letter or two, a person's blood is either "positive" or "negative. If your blood is positive, you have this protein. If it's negative, you don't.

Either way is totally fine. Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Are the Types of Blood Cells? How Does Blood Travel in the Body? Two types of blood vessels carry blood throughout our bodies: Arteries carry oxygenated blood blood that has gotten oxygen from the lungs from the heart to the rest of the body. In this inherited disease, the red blood cells are shaped like half moons rather than the normal indented circles.

This change in shape can make the cells "sticky" and unable to flow smoothly through blood vessels. This causes a blockage in blood flow. This may cause sudden acute or chronic pain. It can also lead to infection or organ damage. Sickle cells die much more quickly than normal blood cells—in about 10 to 20 days instead of days. This causes a shortage of red blood cells. Normocytic anemia. With this type of anemia your red blood cells are a normal shape and size. But you don't have enough of them to meet your body's needs.

Diseases that cause this type of anemia are often long-term conditions, such as kidney disease, cancer, or rheumatoid arthritis. Hemolytic anemia. This type of anemia happens when red blood cells are destroyed by an abnormal process in your body before their lifespan is over. In the Classroom. Donation Center Tours. A Note to Teachers. Donate Blood. Organize a Blood Drive. Educational Programs. About Blood.

Giving Back. Join the Community. Home About Blood Blood Components. Blood Components What is blood made of? Think of your blood as a fruit smoothie made up of about four basic ingredients blended together, all of them important: Red Blood Cells White Blood Cells Platelets Plasma Blood cells are produced in the marrow of bones, especially the vertebrae, ribs, hips, skull and sternum.

Red Blood Cells - erythrocytes Red blood cells are disc-shaped cells containing hemoglobin, which enables the cells to pick up and deliver oxygen to all parts of the body, then pick up carbon dioxide and remove it from tissues. Make up about 40 percent of your blood.

Carry oxygen from the lungs to tissue, and carry back carbon dioxide to the lungs. Contain the molecule hemoglobin which carries the oxygen and makes blood red.

Live about days and are removed by the spleen. Have an after-donation shelf life of days. Most needed for patients with significant blood loss through trauma, surgery, or anemia.

White Blood Cells - leukocytes White cells are the body's primary defense against infection. There are several different types of white blood cells. Lymphocytes are key parts of our immune system and help our bodies fight infection. Blood cells are made in the bone marrow. The bone marrow is the soft, spongy material in the center of the bones. Most of the adult body's bone marrow is in the pelvic bones, breast bone, and the bones of the spine.

There are other organs and systems in our bodies that help regulate blood cells. The lymph nodes, spleen, and liver help regulate the production, destruction, and differentiation developing a specific function of cells. Blood cells formed in the bone marrow start out as a stem cell. A stem cell is the first phase of all blood cells. As the stem cell matures, several distinct cells evolve.

These include the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Immature blood cells are also called blasts. Some blasts stay in the marrow to mature. Others travel to other parts of the body to develop into mature, functioning blood cells. The mainfunction of red blood cells is to carry oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues. And to carry carbon dioxide as a waste product away from the tissues and back to the lungs. Hemoglobin is an important protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of our body.

The main function of white blood cells is to fight infection.