Transportation-Transports oxygen from the lungs to the cells-Transports carbon dioxide from the cells to the lungs-Carries nutrients from the GIT to the cells-Carries heat/waste products from cells –blood plasma is a good heat sink-Hormones/chemical signalling agents from endocrine glands to other cells
Regulation-Regulates of body pH through buffers (HCO3-systems)-Participated in the adjustment of body temperature through heat absorbing and coolant properties of water in the plasma, and heat distribution through variable rate of blood flow through the skin-Regulation of cellular water content through blood osmotic pressures-Blood levels of chemical constituents that regulates physiological responses (e.g. blood glucose on hunger reflex).-Helped to transport regulatory hormones, enzymes that regulate growth and development in the body
Protection-Clotting mechanisms to protect excessive loss of blood-Presence of WBC, and their proteins (antibodies) that protect against disease/ invading foreign agents-Presence of additional proteins (interferons and complement) that helps to protect against diseases.
Components of blood
The whole blood is composed of 2 components : -
Blood plasma,55 %–a watery liquid that contains dissolve substances, of which >90% is water, 7 % proteins, 2 % other solutes in adult animals,
AND
Cellular Components,45 %–the blood cells dominated by Red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC) and platelets.
