Blood

Functions

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, the response to a broken blood vessel, the conversion of blood from a liquid to a semi-solid gel to stop 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

See Also

Kidneys

Blood Plasma