What does blood do?
Blood has a number of functions in the body, including:
- Transportation: Blood transports oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products throughout the body.
- Regulation: Blood helps to regulate body temperature, pH levels, and fluid balance.
- Protection: Blood contains white blood cells that help to fight infection, and it also helps to stop bleeding by clotting.
- Communication: Blood carries chemical messengers called hormones that help to coordinate the activities of different organs and tissues.
Blood is made up of a number of different components, including:
- Red blood cells: Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs.
- White blood cells: White blood cells help to fight infection.
- Platelets: Platelets help to stop bleeding by clotting.
- Plasma: Plasma is the liquid component of blood that carries red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and dissolved substances.
Blood is constantly circulating throughout the body, and it is essential for life.