Blood tissue

A connective tissue vital for transporting nutrients, gases, hormones, and waste products throughout the body.

Blood tissue is classified as a connective tissue that circulates in the cardiovascular system. It is composed of a liquid matrix called plasma, in which various cells, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are suspended. Each of these components plays a vital role in maintaining homeostasis, delivering oxygen, fighting infections, and facilitating clotting.

Terminologia Anatomica

sanguis

System

Circulatory system

Function

The primary function of blood is to act as a transport medium. Red blood cells, or erythrocytes, are responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and returning carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs for exhalation. White blood cells, or leukocytes, serve critical roles in the immune response, identifying and combating pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are crucial for blood clotting; they help prevent excessive bleeding when injuries occur by clumping together at the site of a wound. Additionally, plasma serves as a solvent for carrying nutrients, hormones, and waste products, helping to regulate body temperature and maintain pH balance.

Location

Blood is found throughout the body within the network of blood vessels, which include arteries, veins, and capillaries. It is pumped by the heart, which is located in the thoracic cavity between the lungs. Blood circulates through the body in a closed system, where arteries transport oxygenated blood away from the heart to the organs and tissues, and veins return deoxygenated blood back to the heart. Capillaries, the smallest blood vessels, facilitate the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste products at the tissue level.

Did You Know?

Blood makes up about 7-8% of an individual's body weight, with an average adult carrying approximately 5 liters of blood.
The average lifespan of a red blood cell is around 120 days, after which they are recycled by the spleen and liver.
Humans have about 25 trillion red blood cells at any given time, and each one can carry up to a billion molecules of oxygen.
White blood cells can increase in number rapidly during infections, sometimes doubling within a few days to help fight off pathogens.