Composition of blood

 

Blood transports materials and heat around the body, and helps to protect against disease.

 

Blood contains:

• Red blood cells
• White blood cells
• Platelets
• Plasma

   

  Plasma makes up roughly 55% of the blood's volume.

 

 

 

Blood components and their functions:

 

Component		Function(s)
	Red blood cells	Transports oxygen.
	White blood cells	Ingests pathogens and produces antibodies.
	Platelets	Helps blood clotting.
	Plasma	Transporting carbon dioxide, digested food, hormone, urea, and heat.

 

🔬 Knowledge Check: Composition of Blood

Test your knowledge on the components of blood and their functions in the human body.

1. Which component makes up the largest volume of the blood and acts as the liquid transport medium?

• Red blood cells
• Plasma
• Platelets

2. Red blood cells are specialised for carrying oxygen. What is the name of the red pigment that binds to oxygen?

• Plasma
• Antibody
• Haemoglobin

3. Which type of white blood cell protects the body by ingesting and digesting harmful bacteria?

• Phagocytes
• Lymphocytes
• Platelets

4. What is the primary function of platelets in the circulatory system?

• Transporting hormones
• Helping the blood to clot at a wound
• Producing antibodies

5. Apart from blood cells, which of these substances is transported by the plasma?

• Carbon dioxide
• Haemoglobin
• Oxygen only

Click to Reveal Answers

1. Plasma (The liquid part of the blood that carries all other components).
2. Haemoglobin (The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen).
3. Phagocytes (Cells that surround and destroy pathogens).
4. Helping the blood to clot at a wound (This prevents blood loss and entry of pathogens).
5. Carbon dioxide (Along with nutrients like glucose and hormones).

 

Tags:Blood, plasma, platelets, red blood cells, white blood cells, blood composition, red blood cells white blood cells and platelets, red blood cell white blood cell and platelets