What is Blood?
Blood is the only fluid connective tissue in our body.
What are the different functions of blood?
The major functions of blood are transportation, immunological activity, and clotting.
● Transportation
The blood carries oxygen to the cells and carbon dioxide away from the cells. It also carries various hormones, proteins, nutrients, and waste products.
● Immunological activity
Blood contains components that protect the body from infection.
● Clotting
Blood contains components that aid in the clotting during injuries.
What are the Different components of blood?
Blood has two major components: the fluid called plasma and the cells suspended in it.
What is plasma?
Plasma is the liquid part of the blood which is composed of 90-95% water, and the remaining consists of various proteins, hormones, clotting factors, and electrolytes.
Plasma makes up to 55% of the total blood’s volume.
What are the different cells suspended in the plasma?
There are three major cell types found in the blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
● Red blood cells (RBCs)
Red blood cells or Erythrocytes are enucleated cells. They have a protein called Haemoglobin which has iron molecules embedded inside of it. The iron imparts red colour to the cells.
Haemoglobin enables RBCs to carry oxygen. The iron molecule binds to the oxygen molecule and helps in delivering oxygen to the required cells.
Red blood cells
- White blood cells (WBCs)
White blood cells or Leukocytes are white in colour. They are the soldier cells of the body that fights off infection.
White blood cells
- Platelets
Platelets or Thrombocytes are irregular shaped, colourless cells. Platelets help in clotting.
Platelets come together at the site of injury and form a mesh or plug. This helps in controlling the excessive flow of blood.
