Blood is pumped to every part of our body through the blood vessels. The circulatory system is a vital organ system that permits the circulation of blood and other essential nutrients to every cell, tissue and organ in the body. This organ system consists of the heart, lungs, arteries, veins and the blood vessels.
Before learning about the parts and functions of the circulatory system, let us know some interesting facts and information about blood in the human body.
Here are some interesting facts and information about blood and its functions.
1. Blood is the only fluid connective tissue that runs throughout the body. It also acts as a means of transport for all the necessary components like nutrients, oxygen, electrolytes, proteins, glucose hormones and other metabolic wastes.
2. Blood makes up around 7 to 8 per cent of the total body weight. The composition of blood includes two main components – plasma and formed elements or corpuscles, which includes RBCs (Red Blood Cells), WBCs (White Blood Cells) and blood platelets.
3. The primary functions of blood include transportation, providing protection from foreign invasion and regulation of pH and body temperature.
4. We, humans, have red-coloured blood, while other species have different colours of blood and this is mainly determined by the respiratory pigment or the protein called haemoglobin.
5. Blood is generally composed of RBCs-red blood or erythrocytes, white blood cells (WBCs) or leukocytes, blood platelets or thrombocytes, and plasma that includes protein, salts, and water.
6. White Blood Cells (WBC), also called leukocytes, play an important role in the human reproductive system by maintaining a healthy immune system, developing a network of blood vessels within the ovary and also play a vital role in the production of the progesterone hormone.
7. A healthy and adult human body comprises approximately 1.325 gallons of blood. A single drop of blood contains millions of red blood cells, thousands of white blood cells and lakhs of blood platelets.
8. Like other body features, the eye, hair texture and skin colour, blood group is also inherited genetically from our parents. There are 4 main blood groups of human blood – O, A, B, and AB. and are collectively called the ABO blood group system.
9. These blood groups are mainly differentiated based on the inherited antigenic substances on the surface of Red Blood Cells.
10. According to research, the ABO blood group system results in varying nutritional needs and affects the individual’s fertility, personality, stress levels, etc.
There are many more interesting facts and information about blood and its functions. These were some of them. Stay tuned with BYJU’S to learn more in detail about blood cells and also enjoy watching various subject related YouTube videos by subscribing to BYJU’S YouTube videos.
