ABOUT BLOODBlood is a red specialized body fluid that circulates in the arteries and veins of human and other animals. Blood contains 45% of cells and 55% of plasma. it has four main components which are plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The blood is transported throughout the body by the circulatory. Blood functions in two directions: arterial and venous. Arterial blood means oxygen and nutrients are transported to tissues while venous blood means carbon dioxide and metabolic by-products are transported to the lungs and kidneys, respectively, for removal from the body.
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Plasma• Yellow liquid carries nutrients, hormones and proteins through out the body
• Carrying blood components through the body • contains 95% of water, 5% of nutrients, hormones and proteins • The often forgotten component of blood |
Red blood cells• Carrying fresh oxygen through out the body
• Collecting Carbon dioxide through the use of haemoglobin (protein in red blood cells carry oxygen). They also remove carbon dioxide from our body, transporting it to the lungs for us to exhale • They look like doughnuts without a hole • They are made inside your our bones, in the marrowbone and live for 120 days then die. |
White blood cells• Account for 1% of our blood. There are five different white blood cells: Monocytes, Lymphocytes, Neutrophils, Basophils, Eosinophil.
• They are essential warriors in protecting us against illness and diseases • They are also produced inside the marrowbone, stored in blood and lymphatic tissues • Because of their 3 days life-time, our marrowbone is constantly producing them. |
Platelets• Tiny blood cells that help forming clots to stop bleeding
• Blood vessels will send out signals which are picked up by platelets when it's damaged • They then rush to the site of damage and form a plug to repair. • The process is called Adhesion. The platelets grow sticky tentacles to adhere and also sending out chemical signals to attract more platelets to pile onto the clot in a process called aggregation. |