Difference between ertrocytes and leucocytes funtion
Answers
The main difference between red blood cells and white blood cells is in their respective functions. While red blood cells are responsible for transport of respiratory gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide), white blood cells provide defense mechanisms for fighting foreign microorganisms entering the human organism.
Blood is the fluid connective tissue and it plays a very vital role in the human body. There are 4 primary components of blood and they are Red Blood Cells and White Blood Cells, platelets and plasma. Plasma makes up around 55 % of the human blood in the body.
The blood performs three major functions in the human body, namely:
Transportation
Protection
Regulation of body temperature and also regulates the pH level of the body.
Red Blood Cells
The Red blood cells are also called erythrocytes. RBCs store the hemoglobin, which is a respiratory pigment that binds to oxygen or carbon dioxide molecules. This helps in the transportation of the oxygen to different tissues and organs of the human body. It also takes away the carbon-dioxide from these organs and tissues to be replenished in the lungs. Hemoglobin mainly comprises of iron which combines with the oxygen, thus giving the reddish color to the blood. The main function of the RBCs is the transportation of nutrients and the hormones throughout the human body.
White Blood cells
The white blood cells are also called Leukocytes. These WBCs act as defense agents against any infections in the human body. They produce a special kind of protein called an antibody which recognizes and fights against the foreign entities invading the human body. These cells are classified further as granulocytes and agranulocytes. Granulocytes have visible granule-like structures in the cell bodies, hence their names. On the other hand, agranulocytes do not possess these granule-like structures. The three kinds of granulocytes are neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils.
Let us learn more differences between these two types of blood cells.
Difference between Red Blood Cells and White Blood Cells
RBC – Red Blood Cells
WBC – White Blood Cells
Red blood cells are called as Erythrocytes.
White Blood Cells are called as Leucocytes or Leukocytes.
RBCs are shaped as bi-concave discs.
These have an irregular shape.
Size varies from 6 – 8 µm in diameter.
Size varies from 12 – 17 µm in diameter.
These cells have a lifespan of about 120 days.
These have a lifespan of around 13-20 days after which, they are destroyed in the lymphatic system
Red blood cells do not have a nucleus at maturity.
WBCs are characterized by the presence of a large central nucleus.
Due to the presence of hemoglobin, these cells appear red in color.
These cells are colorless, as they do not have any pigment.
Only one type of RBCs exists.
Different types of WBC’s are found in the blood such as neutrophils, B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, eosinophils.
They help in the transport of respiratory gases to different parts of the human body
They help in producing antibodies to fight against diseases causing microbes.
RBCs are produced in the red bone marrow
These cells are produced in the red bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen, etc.
The components of red blood cells are hemoglobin.
The components of white blood cells are antibodies with the presence of MHC (major histocompatibility complex) antigen cell markers.
These cells make up around 36-50% of human blood.
They make up around 1% of the human blood.
They are about 5 million/ mm³ of blood.
They are about 7000–8000/mm³ of blood.
The process of formation of RBC is known as erythropoiesis.
The process of formation of WBC is known as leukopoiesis.
These cells move between the cardiovascular systems.
These cells move between the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems.
Low count of RBCs results in Anaemia.
Low count of WBC’S results in Leukopenia.