blood

Composition of blood. Human blood contains red blood cells, white blood cells (phagocytes and lymphocytes), and platelets, suspended in plasma.

Fluid pumped by the heart, that circulates in the arteries, veins, and capillaries of vertebrate animals forming the bloodstream. The term also refers to the corresponding fluid in those invertebrates that possess a closed circulatory system. Blood carries nutrients and oxygen to each body cell and removes waste products such as carbon dioxide. It is also important in the immune response and, in many animals, in the distribution of heat throughout the body.

The adult human body contains about 5.5 l/10 pt of blood (about 5% of the body weight). It is composed of a fluid called plasma, in which are suspended microscopic cells of three main varieties:

Red blood cells (erythrocytes) form nearly half the volume of the blood, with about 6 million red blood cells in every millilitre of an adult's blood. They transport oxygen around the body. Oxygen is absorbed into the millions of blood capillaries surrounding the tiny air sacs of the lungs and is carried in the blood by haemoglobin, a red protein within the red blood cells.

White blood cells (leucocytes) are of various kinds. Some (phagocytes) ingest invading bacteria and so protect the body from disease; these also help to repair injured tissues. Others (lymphocytes) produce antibodies, which help provide immunity by binding to disease-causing bacteria and destroying them. Yet others can kill cells infected by viruses.

Blood platelets (thrombocytes) assist in the clotting of blood.

Blood cells constantly wear out and die and are replaced from the bone marrow. Red blood cells die at the rate of 200 billion per day but the body produces new cells at an average rate of 9,000 million per hour.

Many different substances are transported by the blood around the body. Following digestion small food molecules are absorbed into the blood from the gut. The blood transports these nutrients (for example glucose) to the cells of the body. Waste products produced by the cells, such as carbon dioxide, are carried by the blood to the lungs to be exhaled. Hormones (such as oestrogen) are transported by the blood from glands to body cells in order to regulate various processes.

Smoking Smoking affects the blood in several ways. Blood vessels are narrowed as a result of smoking and this raises blood pressure. Having blood pressure that is higher than normal is bad for the health. In smoke there is a gas called carbon monoxide. This combines with haemoglobin instead of oxygen thereby reducing the amount of oxygen that can be carried in the blood. People who smoke a lot cannot carry enough oxygen around their bodies during vigorous exercise and will feel ‘short of breath’.

Blood as a heat regulator Blood distributes heat throughout the body, including to the skin surface where it is lost to the environment.

Chemistry of blood Arterial blood, which is rich in oxygen, is bright red in colour; venous blood, containing little oxygen, is dark red. Blood is slightly heavier than water (specific gravity 1.06) and has an alkaline reaction.

Artificial blood In 1996 US companies began testing different varieties of artificial blood. All are able to transport oxygen from the lungs round the body and carry carbon dioxide back.