The Body at Work: A Treatise on the Principles of PhysiologyHill, Alex
Science
The Body at Work: A Treatise on the Principles of Physiology
Hill, Alex
Physiology
In early stages of embryonic life all red blood-corpuscles are
nucleated, as they are permanently in birds and the other classes
of vertebrates below mammals. In embryonic mammals they multiply by
division whilst circulating in the blood, just as in the newt. But
it is generally believed that this is not the most important source
of new ones. During the earliest stages of growth they are being
formed in enormous numbers. Such instances of division as can be seen
in circulating blood appear to be all too infrequent to account for
their rapid multiplication, and there can be no doubt but that a more
complicated method of production is more important. Their formation
is described as taking place “endogenously.” Certain cells termed
“vaso-formative,” or “vaso-sanguiformative,” reach a considerable size,
and become stellate in form, or branched. Their nuclei divide without
the cell dividing. Each nucleus accumulates a little hæmoglobin round
it. A space filled with fluid appears inside the cell. The nuclei
project into this space. Then they drop off with their envelopes of
hæmoglobin. The outer shell of the big vaso-formative cell becomes
the wall of a capillary bloodvessel. By its branches it links up with
other vaso-formative cells, making a network of vessels. The fluid
inside it is the plasma of the blood. The nuclei and their envelopes
are blood-corpuscles. This, if it be a true story, is a comprehensive
way of making bloodvessels and blood at the same time. Doubts have been
thrown upon its accuracy, but many leading histologists strenuously
maintain that this description is correct.
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