Blood has many functions in your body. Blood tests help doctors check for certain diseases and conditions. Learn about blood types and blood tests.

Understanding the Context

Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells of the body, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. [1] Blood is composed of blood cells suspended in plasma. In this episode, Blood Associate Editor Dr. Jason Gotlib discusses the Review Series "The New Wave of Targeted Therapeutics for MPN’s", with authors Drs.

Key Insights

Stefan Constantinescu, Ann Mullally, and Marina Kremyanskaya. Our mission is to provide a safe blood supply that meets or exceeds the needs in each community we serve, and to provide a variety of services in support of ongoing and emerging blood and transfusion-related activities. Blood is a specialized fluid that constantly flows throughout your body. It’s made of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Blood is a fluid that transports oxygen and nutrients to cells and carries away carbon dioxide and other waste products.

Final Thoughts

It contains specialized cells that serve particular functions. These cells are suspended in a liquid matrix known as plasma. It has four main components: plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The blood that runs through the veins, arteries, and capillaries is known as whole blood—a mixture of about 55% plasma and 45% blood cells. About 7% to 8% of your total body weight is blood. Detailed information on blood, including components of blood, functions of blood cells and common blood tests.