What is the meaning of blood?
The blood is composed of several components:
- Plasma: The liquid part of the blood that makes up about 55% of its volume. Plasma contains water, salts, proteins, hormones, and waste products such as urea and creatinine.
- Red blood cells (erythrocytes): These are the most abundant cells in the blood and make up about 45% of its volume. Red blood cells contain haemoglobin, an iron-containing protein that carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs.
- White blood cells (leukocytes): These are cells that help the body fight infection. They make up about 1% of the blood's volume.
- Platelets (thrombocytes): These are small cell fragments that help the blood to clot and prevent excessive bleeding. They make up about 0.5% of the blood's volume.