What is Blood Made up of?
Blood is a fluid that flows through the body. It is thicker than water and is salty to taste. There are about 10.6 pints of blood that circulates through the body of a normal adult.
What is Blood Made Up of?
Blood is made up of cells in a watery base, called plasma. There are three major types of cells blood made up of – red blood cells (RBCs), while blood cells (WBCs) and platelets.
Red blood cells
- They are also known as erythrocytes, carry oxygen to various parts of the body.
- They are the most in number, constituting about 40-45% of blood. Their structure is like that of dough nuts.
- They contain haemoglobin, which contains iron and protein and helps carry oxygen throughout the body.
- The iron present in RBCs makes blood appears red in color.
White blood cells
- They are also called leukocytes, are the soldiers of the body.
- They protect body systems from infections, diseases by fighting viruses, bacteria and other such harmful invasions.
- They are of three types, namely, monocytes, lymphocytes and granulocytes.
- Granulocytes are known so because they hold digestive enzymes.
- They are of three types – neutrophils, basophils and eosinophils.
- Neutrophils destroy invasive bacteria by ingesting and then digesting them.
- Eosinophils destroy parasites and play a part in allergic reactions.
- Basophils also play a part in allergic reactions, but their role is not yet clear.
- Lymphocytes are extremely important to the immune system. They are of two types – T cells and B cells.
- T cells tell the immune system about invasions and external activity.
- B cells produce antibodies that destroy foreign harmful bodies.
- Monocytes are the largest of WBCs which become even bigger on entering tissues and are called macrophages.
- They ingest foreign bodies and help rid the body of damaged and dead cells.
- They are also called thrombocytes, help in clotting of blood.
- They are essential in maintaining wear and tear of the body.
- They are important in stopping bleeding in case of an external wound or abrasion.
- They also help prevent internal bleeding.
- They are shaped like plates when inactive and that is the reason why they are called platelets. They are the smallest of the blood cells.
- This is the fluid in which these cells are present and which carries these cells all over the body.
- It is made up of 90% water.
- The rest 10% consists of the cells mentioned above along with proteins, vitamins, minerals, glucose, hormones and many other essential nutrients.
These are what blood made up of, the human body cannot function without blood. It reaches nutrients to different cells of the body as well as helps flush out toxins and other waste products from the body.