Overview of Blood and Blood Components

What is blood?
Blood is the life-maintaining fluid that circulates through the entire body.

What is the function of blood?

Blood carries the following to the body tissues:

➢ Nourishment

➢ Electrolytes

➢ Hormones

➢ Vitamins

➢ Antibodies

➢ Heat

➢ Oxygen

➢ Immune cells
 ➢ Blood carries the following away from the body tissues:

➢ Waste matter

➢ Carbon dioxide

What are the components of blood?

The components of human blood are:
- Plasma. The liquid component of the blood in which the following blood cells are suspended:

- Red blood cells (erythrocytes). These carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body

- White blood cells (leukocytes). These helps fight infections and aid in the immune process.
Types of white blood cells include:

a. Lymphocytes

b. Monocytes

c. Eosinophils

d. Basophils

e. Neutrophils

- Platelets (thrombocytes). These help in blood clotting.