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Blood cell facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

A blood cell is any cell of any type found in blood. There are three main types of blood cells in mammals:

  • Red blood cell-carries oxygen
  • White blood cell-kills bacteria and cleans up debris
  • Platelet-helps heal wounds. Platelets are really thrombocytes. These are small fragments (pieces) of a cell called a megakaryocyte. The platelets take part in blood clots when injury occurs.

Images for kids

  • Blood cells 090304-F-5951M-108

    Red and white human blood cells as seen under a microscope using a blue slide stain

  • Venous and arterial blood

    The darker red blood syringes have deoxygenated blood, whereas the brighter red have oxygenated blood.

  • Red White Blood cells

    Artificially colored electron micrograph of blood cells. From left to right: erythrocyte, thrombocyte, leukocyte.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Células sanguíneas para niños

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Blood cell Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.