What is blood?

	Images: Eastbourne General District Hoptital, Haematology Department
	Have a look at our Blood on the dancefloor film here >>

Blood is a red liquid that is pumped around the body by the heart. It is a mixture of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets, floating in plasma. As it moves around, passing through every organ, blood picks up and deposits various important substances.

Red blood cells are the most common type of blood cell and the body’s principle means of delivering oxygen to all the various organs and muscles. Each red blood cell contains a molecule of haemaglobin and this binds with oxygen when it passes through the lungs.

White blood cells are the body’s defence against infection and invasion. They have numerous ways of attacking and neutralising harmful bacteria that get into the blood.

Platelets are irregular-shaped, colourless bodies that float in blood waiting to protect the body from excessive blood loss. When bleeding from a wound occurs, the platelets clump together and eventually help to form a clot.

Plasma is about 90 percent water and the remaining percentage is a mixture of enzymes, clotting agents, and proteins that carry hormones, vitamins, cholesterol, and other things the body needs. Plasma also contains sugar (glucose) and electrolytes like sodium, potassium and calcium. Plasma is extremely important in blood as without it the life-giving blood cells would be left floundering without transportation

So what is blood? It’s the stuff that keeps us alive and makes our bodies work.

Have a butchers at our BloodZine >>