

Along with the heart and the blood, the blood vessels form the cardiovascular system. What are blood vessels?īlood vessels are the network of tubes through which blood is pumped around the body. Blood type is also important in pregnant women to work out which Rhesus type they are and whether the mother’s blood and baby’s blood are compatible. Doctors check a person’s blood type before a blood transfusion or organ transplant, to ensure compatibility with the donor’s blood type. The main blood types are A, B, AB, and O.
#Blood cell fragments used to clot blood are called full
full blood count - this measures the number of the different types of cells in your blood.

Your blood can give useful information on how well your body is working and help doctors test for some diseases and conditions. It also carries the nutrients from our diet such as sugars, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Plasma is the straw-coloured fluid that carries the blood cells. Then they clump together and help a clot form at the injury site. They circulate in the blood until there is an injury to a blood vessel. Platelets are small cell fragments that help the blood clot. There are 5 main types of white blood cell - neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils. They detect and fight infections or foreign substances that enter the body. White blood cells are part of the immune system. Red blood cells contain haemoglobin, which is the protein that enables them to carry oxygen. Red blood cells transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body, and carry waste products to the lungs or kidneys for release. Most blood cells are made in the bone marrow. As well as carrying cells, nutrients, oxygen and waste, blood also helps to regulate body temperature. An average adult has about 5 litres of blood in their body. They are vital for carrying nutrients, oxygen and waste around the body.īlood is made up of cells and plasma. Blood, the heart and the vessels through which blood is pumped around the body, together make up the cardiovascular system.
