Question

Where do the following events occur?

Red blood cell formation

Red blood cell recycling

Plasma protein synthesis

White blood cell formation

Storage of iron removed from worn-out red blood cells

Secretion of erythropoietin

Platelet plug formation

**Please be specific with the answer and try to talk about the functions as well! Thanks!

Answer 1

1) Red blood cell formation: This is also known as erythropoiesis and takes place in the bone marrow.
The signal for RBC formation comes from low concentration of oxygen in the circulatory system.


2) Red blood cell recycling: This is done in the spleen, lymph nodes and liver and is carried out by macrophages, which are large phagocytic cells. Red blood cells contain mostly hemoglobin, the heme portion of which is split into iron(Fe3+) and Biliverdin, a green pigment and the globin portion is broken down into amino acids and recycled.

3) Plasma protein synthesis: Plasma proteins are mostly glycoproteins and they are synthesized on membrane bound polyribosomes in the liver. Their functions are transport of hormones, minerals, vitamins etc. and in immune system as well.
Most abundant of them is Albumin.

4) White blood cells or WBCs are also called leukocytes and like RBCs are derived from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow.
Function of WBCs is majorly in the immune system of the body to fight against diseases.

5) Iron removed from worn out Red blood cells is mostly recycled to make more red blood cells, but in case of extra amounts, it is stored in the liver, bone marrow and spleen, because if unchecked, it can cause injury to vital organs.

6) Secretion of erythropoietin: Erythropoietin or EPO is a hormone which stimulates the formation of red blood cells.
This hormone is produced in the kidneys.

7) Platelet plug formation: When a blood vessel is injured, platelets are collected and this collection is called a platelet plug.
This takes place on the vessel wall, on the endothelium, more specifically.

Steps in the platelet plug formation:

Hope this answers your question!