The juices of life or your blood are essential for the functioning of the body. It ensures that organs receive enough oxygen and sugars to keep running. Our heart systematically pumps blood around the body, making the heart also a vital part of the body. But what is it actually made of, what is the composition of blood and what functions do its parts have?

Composition of blood

• The carrier of blood components: plasma
• Structure of blood cells
• Lifespan of blood cells
• Blood types

The carrier of blood components: plasma

About fifty percent of the blood consists of plasma. This is a mix of substances that allows the blood parts to be transported effectively and kept within the flow line of the blood vessel. The blood plasma mainly consists of the following components.

Albumin

This protein ensures that the water present within the plasma is, as it were, drawn in. The fluid therefore remains within the veins, aortas and arteries, so that the blood parts cannot leak away, provided there is no damage to the pipes.

Antibodies

These come into action when unwanted viruses or bacteria enter the body. It therefore forms the body’s natural army and acts on foreign substances. The goal is for antibodies to destroy the invaders.

Clotting stimulator

Substances ensure that the blood in the body does not clot as much as possible. However, if a wound occurs, they will work in collaboration with platelets to repair the damage.

Water

Liquid containing a range of minerals, proteins, hormones and fats dissolved in it.The purpose of the plasma is to transport the other components of the blood such as hormones, proteins, etc. to the various organs and tissues.

Structure of blood cells

In the body, the bone marrow is responsible for the production of blood cells. The bone marrow is therefore also a vital source of life for our existence. The following components are produced in the bone marrow and determine the composition of blood.

Red blood cells

The primary function of red blood cells is to transport oxygen. These blood corpuscles are almost completely filled with hemoglobin, which can connect oxygen to the blood corpuscle via the mineral iron. Oxygen can therefore be transported to all important organs in the body. A deficiency of iron or hemoglobin in the blood means that one suffers from anemia.

White bloodcells

White blood cells form the immune system and ensure that antibodies can do their job effectively. Donor blood is usually filtered from these blood cells, otherwise the own blood cells will react against it, resulting in fever or flu. A deficiency can lead to frequent infections and is potentially fatal. This condition is called leukemia. An HLA blood test examines white blood cells for a special antigen to detect autoimmune diseases.

Platelets

In the event of damage, platelets ensure tissue repair. If damage has occurred to the skin but also to the body itself, the platelets come into action. It allows blood to clot, which closes the leak and allows tissue to repair. A shortage of platelets can lead to prolonged bleeding.

Lifespan of blood cells

The blood has a limited shelf life and so it must be regularly refreshed or recreated. The blood cells have the following shelf life:

• Red blood cells last one hundred and twenty days and are therefore completely renewed three times a year;
• White blood cells only last two days and are therefore replaced one hundred and eighty times a year;
• Platelets only last ten days.

Old blood cells are filtered and broken down by the liver. Because the primary component is red blood cells (hemoglobin), the broken down material will have a yellowish color. This material is removed with the feces, giving the feces a mainly brown color.

Blood types

Four main blood groups can be distinguished. This distinction has been made because not every person is allowed to receive every blood group as a donor, and not everyone is allowed to give blood to others. The blood contains antibodies, which ensure that the wrong type of blood in the body is tackled with antibodies, causing the blood to clot. If someone urgently needs blood, it must first be determined which blood group that person has:

• Blood group A: has anti-B and may only donate blood to blood groups A and AB;
• Blood group B: has anti-A and may only donate blood to blood groups B and AB;
• Blood group AB: possesses antigen A and B and may only donate blood to blood group AB;
• Blood group O: has anti A and B and can therefore only receive blood group O, but can donate to A, B, AB and O.

In the Netherlands and Belgium, the blood groups are on average divided as follows :

If blood is urgently needed, it is necessary to quickly identify the correct blood group so that the correct vital fluids are administered. If you also want to donate plasma or blood, please contact the local Sanquin organization that regulates the blood supply in the Netherlands.

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