Blood is an important fluid that keeps us alive. We cannot live without it.

The heart pumps blood to all

parts of the body and brings them oxygen and food. At the same time blood carries all the substances
we don't need away from us. Blood fights infections, keeps our body temperature the same and carries
chemicals that control body functions. Finally, blood has substances that repair broken blood vessels so
that we don't bleed to death. Plasma is the liquid part of our blood. It makes up about 50-60% of it.
Plasma consists mostly of water but many other substances are in it. It contains dissolved food,
chemicals that control our growth and do other jobs, proteins, minerals and waste products. Red blood
cells look like flat round discs. They contain haemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen to the body and
gives blood its red colour. Each drop of blood has about 300 million of these red cells. White blood cells,
also called leukocytes, fight infections and harmful substances that invade the body. Most of these cells
are round and colourless. They have different sizes and shapes. White blood cells are not as numerous as
red ones. For every 700 red blood cells there is only one white blood cell. Platelets are tiny bodies that
are much smaller than red blood cells. They stick to the edges of a cut and form blood clots to stop
bleeding. The blood of a normal adult has about 2trillion platelets. The circulatory system carries blood
to all parts of your body. The heart pumps blood through big blood vessels called arteries and veins. In
our body there are also millions of small blood vessels called capillaries. Oxygen, food and other
substances pass through the thin walls of these capillaries into the tissue. When you inhale air oxygen
passes through your lungs and and is picked up by haemoglobin which transports it to your whole body.
It is released into cells which produce energy. In return cells produce carbon dioxide which enters your
blood stream and is transported back to your lungs where it is exhaled. Food also reaches your body by
means of blood. It is digested in your stomach and important substances like fat, sugar, proteins,
vitamins and minerals are separated. These nutrients enter your blood stream and are moved to the
cells and muscles where they are needed in order to give you energy or fuel. The work of the muscles
and other tissue creates heat. Blood is the transporting system which carries heat throughout your body
and warms you. The things that you don't need are transported to your intestines and kidneys and leave
your body again. White blood cells play an important role in your immune system. When harmful
substances invade your body an alarm goes off and white blood cells are activated. Then they work to
destroy the invaders. They fight off viruses, harmful bacteria and begin anti-body production. Blood also
carries hormones to places where they are needed. When a hormone reaches a part of the body it
controls growth, how the body uses food and other things. You would bleed to death from a small cut if
your blood didn't clot. When a blood vessel breaks platelets rush to the damaged area and stick to one
another, forming a plug. Blood cells come from bone marrow. They begin as stem cells and then develop
into red or white blood cells, or platelets. They don't live forever and must be replaced by new ones. Red
blood cells live an average of 120days before wearing out. Then they are captured and destroyed in the
liver and spleen. Platelets live only for about 10days. The amount of blood in your body depends on your
size, weight and the altitude at which you live. An adult who weighs 80 kg has about 5 litres of blood, a
40 kg child about half the amount. People who live in high areas where the air is thinner need more
blood to deliver more oxygen to the body.