• Question: why do we need blood?

    Asked by babehillier2k10 to Chris on 15 Mar 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Chris Cooper

      Chris Cooper answered on 15 Mar 2010:

      For the same reason we need roads and railroads. It is our body’s transportation system. We probably are most familiar with its roles in transporting the oxygen in the air we breathe; this is the function of the red blood cells. But it also transports the sugar that we get from our food and therefore delivers energy to our muscle or brain. As well as transportation blood plays a very important role in preventing disease; this is the function of the white blood cells.

      I can go into more detail if you wish.

Comments

  • Photo: babehillier2k10

    babehillier2k10 commented on :

    yes plz

  • Photo: Chris

    Chris commented on :

    I am writing a book on blood at the moment – but I haven’t finished yet! In the meantime I have had a look at the wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood

    It seems pretty up-to-date and clear. It lists the following functions. Why don’t you take a look and ask me a question if you don’t understand anything?

    Blood performs many important functions within the body including:
    Supply of oxygen to tissues (bound to hemoglobin, which is carried in red cells)
    Supply of nutrients such as glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids (dissolved in the blood or bound to plasma proteins (e.g., blood lipids)
    Removal of waste such as carbon dioxide, urea, and lactic acid
    Immunological functions, including circulation of white blood cells, and detection of foreign material by antibodies
    Coagulation, which is one part of the body’s self-repair mechanism (the act of blood clotting when you get cut to stop the bleeding.)
    Messenger functions, including the transport of hormones and the signaling of tissue damage
    Regulation of body pH
    Regulation of core body temperature
    Hydraulic functions