Animals: Circulatory System - Blood

Section: Animals: Circulatory System - Blood

• Blood is a type of connective tissue that functions to transport nutrients, oxygen, waste, hormones, and heat around the body.

• Composed of different types of cells suspended in a liquid called plasma, blood forms an integral part of the body’s circulatory system.

• The four main components of blood are red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets.

• Red blood cells (erythrocytes) hold a crucial role in the transport of oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues and the return of carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs. Their bounded structure is responsible for the red colour of the blood.

• Hemoglobin found within red blood cells binds to oxygen and gives the red blood cells their red colour. This iron-containing protein is essential for oxygen transportation.

• White blood cell (leukocytes) function in the immune response. Their role involves the identification and destruction of pathogens, including bacteria and viruses.

• Plasma is the liquid component of blood where the blood cells are suspended. It is primarily composed of water, proteins, inorganic ions, nutrients, wastes, hormones, and gases.

• Platelets (thrombocytes) play a crucial role in the blood clotting process, preventing excessive bleeding following injuries.

• Blood circulation in humans takes place through a closed system of tubes. These include arteries that transport blood away from the heart, capillaries where exchange of nutrients and waste occurs, and veins that return blood to the heart.

• The body regulates blood volume to maintain blood pressure. Any change detected stimulates mechanisms to restore stable conditions.

• Finally, remember that abnormal blood components or irregular circulatory function may lead to disorders such as anaemia, hypertension, or coronary artery disease. Understanding how the circulatory system functions can help you understand how these conditions occur and can be treated.