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Blood Composition BioNinja

Blood is composed of approximately 55% plasma, 45% red blood cells, and less than 1% buffy coat. Plasma serves as a transport medium for nutrients, hormones, and waste products, while red blood cells carry oxygen and the buffy coat contains white blood cells and platelets for immune defense and clotting. The average adult human has about 5-6 liters of blood, essential for various bodily functions.

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20 views1 page

Blood Composition BioNinja

Blood is composed of approximately 55% plasma, 45% red blood cells, and less than 1% buffy coat. Plasma serves as a transport medium for nutrients, hormones, and waste products, while red blood cells carry oxygen and the buffy coat contains white blood cells and platelets for immune defense and clotting. The average adult human has about 5-6 liters of blood, essential for various bodily functions.

Uploaded by

rostoic
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HOME STANDARD LEVEL HIGHER LEVEL OPTIONS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Blood Composition

Blood is the fluid medium in which materials are


transported around the body via blood vessels

An average adult human contains roughly 5 – 6 litres of


blood (approximately 77 mls per kilogram)

When blood is fractionated by centrifugation, three key


elements become apparent

Fractionated blood contains roughly 55% plasma, 45%


red blood cells and less than 1% forms a buffy coat

Plasma

Consists mainly of water, which dissolves materials and


functions as a transport medium
Contains electrolytes (minerals that carry a charge),
which are important for maintaining fluid balance and
blood pH
Proteins in the blood plasma maintain osmotic potential
(albumin), transport lipids (globulin) and help clot
(fibrinogen)
Blood plasma also functions to transport various
materials needed by the body and wastes produced by
body cells

Red Blood Cells

Red blood cells (erythrocytes) are responsible for


transporting oxygen around the body
Oxygen is bound to haemoglobin at the lungs and
released from the red blood cell at respiring body tissues

Buffy Coat

The buffy coat is the fraction of a blood sample that


contains white blood cells and platelets
White blood cells (leukocytes) are involved in the body’s
immune defence (eliminating infections)
Platelets (thrombocytes) are involved in blood clotting
(repairing damaged vessels to prevent blood loss)

Composition of Human Blood

Composition of Blood Plasma

Various materials are transported in the plasma for use


by the body, including:

Nutrients –
needed by
cells to make
chemical
energy (e.g.
glucose)

Antibodies –
involved in
pathogen
identification and elimination

Carbon dioxide – waste produced as a by-product of cell


respiration

Hormones – chemical messengers that move through the


bloodstream

Oxygen – required by body tissues in order to respire


aerobically

Urea – compound that is excreted to remove nitrogen


from the body

Heat – not a molecule, but still an important component of


blood plasma

Mnemonic: Nacho, Uh!

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